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Deadly hurricane roars into Cuba Deadly hurricane roars into Cuba
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Gustav, a highly dangerous Category 4 storm, is lashing Cuba with torrential rain 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.
US Republicans say their convention in Minnesota next week could be suspended as the storm roars ashore.US Republicans say their convention in Minnesota next week could be suspended as the storm roars ashore.
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 In pictures: Hurricane GustavPreparing for GustavJohn 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 In pictures: Hurricane GustavPreparing 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."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.
Gustav swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica last week, killing more than 80 people and causing widespread damage.Gustav swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica last week, killing more than 80 people and causing widespread damage.
After Cuba, its projected path takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, before striking the US, possibly as early as Monday.After Cuba, its projected path takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, before striking the US, possibly as early as Monday.
The US city of New Orleans has begun enforcing a mandatory evacuation order for coastal districts, or parishes.The US city of New Orleans has begun enforcing a mandatory evacuation order for coastal districts, or parishes.
Upgrading the storm to a Category 4, the US National Hurricane Center warned that Gustav could still grow into a Category 5.Upgrading the storm to a Category 4, the US National Hurricane Center warned that Gustav could still grow into a Category 5.
Tobacco fearsTobacco 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 In Cuba, the storm has brought extensive flooding to the western, tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio and Havana province.
Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (30 August 2008)Enlarge Image
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.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.
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. Stiff winds have begun hitting Havana and large waves are lashing its famous seafront promenade, the Malecon.
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.
Families living in some of Havana's older, more dilapidated buildings were moved to alternative accommodation during the morning. An AFP correspondent in Batabano, about 70km (40 miles) south of Havana, saw local people hurrying to leave town with valued home appliances tied to their backs or loaded into carts.
"I came here to pick up my daughter because in this area the flooding can get up to your chest," said Roberto Garcia, 61, who together with his son was loading a TV, a refrigerator and a stereo into a cart pulled by an old tractor.
Antonio Guerra, a 48-year-old farmer, was driving a lorry through town to pick up eight friends who live locally.
One of his passengers, 43-year-old Marisel Martinez, said she was not afraid to leave home because "the police and authorities are always watching and taking care of things".
Storm surge fearsStorm surge fears
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.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
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. Earlier, 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.
By Satruday, residents of coastal parishes in New Orleans faced mandatory evacuation from noon onwards (1600 GMT). In the US, the Associated Press estimates that about one million people took to highways in the Gulf Coast region on Saturday to flee the storm.
The city only buried seven unclaimed bodies, the last victims of Hurricane Katrina, at a memorial site on Friday. Coastal parishes in New Orleans have been placed under mandatory evacuation, and long queues could be seen at assembly points in the city.
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. States of emergency have been declared in Louisiana and Texas.
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.
"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. David Paulison, head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), said the government had learnt from Katrina and was taking a "pro-active" approach to the storm, getting evacuation transportation and extra personnel on the ground early.
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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