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Deadly hurricane roars into Cuba Deadly hurricane roars into Cuba
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Gustav, now a highly dangerous Category 4 storm, is bearing down on Cuba after leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean. Hurricane Gustav, a highly dangerous Category 4 storm, is lashing Cuba with torrential rain after leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean.
The eye of the storm has hit Cuba's Isle of Youth and is approaching the mainland with maximum winds of nearly 230km/h (145mph), US monitors say. The eye of the storm has hit Cuba's Isle of Youth and is approaching the mainland, with maximum winds of nearly 230km/h (145mph), US monitors say.
Category 4 is stronger than Katrina was when it hit New Orleans in 2005.Category 4 is stronger than Katrina was when it hit New Orleans in 2005.
Extensive flooding has hit the western tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio and Havana province, reports say. US Republicans say their convention in Minnesota next week could be suspended as the storm roars ashore.
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from Cuba's low-lying coastal regions. John McCain, due to be nominated as the party's presidential election candidate, said the decision would depend on the storm's impact. HURRICANE CATEGORIES FIVE: Winds over 155mph (249km/h). Storm surge more than 18ft (5.4m) above normal. Only three such US landfall hurricanes - Labour Day 1935, Camille 1969 and Andrew 1992FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ftTHREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Katrina hit New Orleans as a three. TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ftONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7589859.stm">In pictures: Hurricane Gustav class="" href="/1/hi/world/7588568.stm">Preparing for Gustav
HURRICANE CATEGORIES FIVE: Winds over 155mph (249km/h). Storm surge more than 18ft (5.4m) above normal. Only three such US landfall hurricanes - Labour Day 1935, Camille 1969 and Andrew 1992FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ftTHREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Katrina hit New Orleans as a three. TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ftONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7589859.stm">In pictures: Hurricane Gustav class="" href="/1/hi/world/7588568.stm">Preparing for Gustav "It wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near-tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a national disaster," he told Fox News.
In the US, New Orleans is enforcing a mandatory evacuation order for coastal districts, or parishes. Gustav swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica last week, killing more than 80 people and causing widespread damage.
On Friday night, Gustav struck the low-lying Cayman Islands, flooding streets in the tax haven and luxury tourist resort but reportedly causing no injuries. After Cuba, its projected path takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, before striking the US, possibly as early as Monday.
Earlier, Gustav swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, killing more than 80 people and causing widespread damage. The US city of New Orleans has begun enforcing a mandatory evacuation order for coastal districts, or parishes.
Its projected path also takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, before striking the US early next week. Upgrading the storm to a Category 4, the US National Hurricane Center warned that Gustav could still grow into a Category 5.
America's Federal Emergency Management Agency said it expected a "huge number" of residents would be told to leave the region over the weekend. Tobacco fears
Storm surge fears In Cuba, the storm has brought extensive flooding to the western, tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio and Havana province. href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220099258/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220099258/html/1.stm', '1220099294', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=466,height=335,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (30 August 2008) href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220099258/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220099258/html/1.stm', '1220099294', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=466,height=335,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image
Upgrading the storm to a Category 4, the US National Hurricane Center warned it could still grow into a Category 5. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying coastal regions and half a million sacks of valuable dried cigar tobacco leaves were moved into safe storage.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220099258/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220099258/html/1.stm', '1220099294', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=466,height=335,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (30 August 2008) href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220099258/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220099258/html/1.stm', '1220099294', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=466,height=335,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image Stiff winds have begun hitting Havana, and hotels and shops were boarded up in the capital as large waves lashed its famous seafront promenade, the Malecon.
Half a million sacks of valuable dried cigar tobacco leaves were moved into safe storage and stiff winds have begun hitting Havana.
Hotels and shops have been boarding up windows as large waves lash the capital's famous seafront promenade, the Malecon.
Trains to and from the capital have been suspended until further notice.Trains to and from the capital have been suspended until further notice.
Cuba, the only communist country in the Americas, boasts one of the best organised disaster-preparedness systems in the region, the BBC's Michael Voss reports.Cuba, the only communist country in the Americas, boasts one of the best organised disaster-preparedness systems in the region, the BBC's Michael Voss reports.
However, much of its ageing housing stock is in poor condition and this could pose additional risks if Gustav hits the capital, a crowded city of two million people.
Families living in some of Havana's older, more dilapidated buildings were moved to alternative accommodation during the morning.Families living in some of Havana's older, more dilapidated buildings were moved to alternative accommodation during the morning.
Katrina dead Storm surge fears
Gustav claimed the lives of at least 66 people in Haiti, eight in the Dominican Republic and seven in Jamaica, where heavy rains caused flooding and strong winds tore roofs off houses. On Friday night, Gustav struck the low-lying Cayman Islands, flooding streets in the tax haven and luxury tourist resort but reportedly causing no injuries.
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Strong winds batter the Cayman IslandsStrong winds batter the Cayman Islands
In New Orleans, residents of coastal parishes faced mandatory evacuation from noon (1600 GMT). The storm claimed the lives of at least 66 people in Haiti, eight in the Dominican Republic and seven in Jamaica, where heavy rains caused flooding and strong winds tore roofs off houses.
The city buried the last seven unclaimed bodies of Katrina at a memorial site on Friday. By Satruday, residents of coastal parishes in New Orleans faced mandatory evacuation from noon onwards (1600 GMT).
Gustav is forecast to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast anywhere from south Texas to Florida by Tuesday and four states in all plan large-scale evacuations. The city only buried seven unclaimed bodies, the last victims of Hurricane Katrina, at a memorial site on Friday.
Gustav is forecast to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast anywhere from south Texas to Florida and, in all, four states plan large-scale evacuations.
Emergency officials have warned that a tidal storm surge up to nine metres (30ft) is possible along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.Emergency officials have warned that a tidal storm surge up to nine metres (30ft) is possible along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
"Plain and simple, Gustav is forecast to be a large and powerful hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, headed toward the northern Gulf coast," said Richard Knabb, a senior hurricane specialist a the US National Hurricane Center."Plain and simple, Gustav is forecast to be a large and powerful hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, headed toward the northern Gulf coast," said Richard Knabb, a senior hurricane specialist a the US National Hurricane Center.
A state of emergency is in place in Louisiana and Texas, allowing the federal government to co-ordinate disaster relief and provide assistance in storm-affected areas if necessary.A state of emergency is in place in Louisiana and Texas, allowing the federal government to co-ordinate disaster relief and provide assistance in storm-affected areas if necessary.
Gustav is the second major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.Gustav is the second major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.
Have you been affected by Gustav? Are you preparing for its arrival? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Have you been affected by Gustav? Are you preparing for its arrival? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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