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Gustav strengthens off west Cuba Cuba braces for deadly hurricane
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Gustav has strengthened into a "major" category three storm as it nears western Cuba, US forecasters say. Mass evacuations are under way in Cuba hours before Hurricane Gustav is due to blow in from the west after wreaking destruction around the Caribbean.
Cuban civil defence forces have been put on alert, and a mass evacuation is under way in low-lying coastal areas, where mudslides and floods are feared. Some 13,000 residents and 4,000 tourists were evacuated on Friday from low-lying coastal regions and the capital Havana is also on storm alert.
Gustav has already struck the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, killing more than 70 people. Half a million sacks of valuable dried cigar tobacco have been stored away.
It could become a category four storm over the weekend as it passes over warm waters and heads for the US Gulf Coast. Gustav has reached Category 3 strength - like Katrina in 2005 - and could grow further as it heads for the US.
Overnight, Gustav, which now packs winds of up to 185km/h (115mph), struck the low-lying Cayman Islands.
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 1982FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ftTHREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Includes Hurricane Katrina. TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ftONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre Preparing for Gustav
Storm surges and heavy rain flooded the streets of the tax haven and luxury tourist resort as people took refuge in government shelters, though no injuries were reported.
Earlier, Gustav swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, killing more than 70 people and causing widespread damage.
Its projected path also takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, before striking the US early next week.
America's Federal Emergency Management Agency said it expected a "huge number" of residents would be told to leave the region over the weekend.
New Orleans, one of the cities potentially at risk, has only just buried some of the last unidentified victims of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated Louisiana in 2005.
Storm surge fears
As of 1000 GMT on Saturday, Gustav was about 220km (135 miles) south-east of Isla de la Juventud and about 410km (255 miles) east-south-east of the western tip of Cuba, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (30 August 2008)Enlarge ImagePredicted route of Hurricane Gustav (30 August 2008)Enlarge Image
Cuban authorities have evacuated more than 60,000 people from low-lying coastal areas in Pinar del Rio and Isla de la Juventud before Gustav hits, and have mobilised medical and emergency rescue teams to deal with the possible aftermath. Cuban evacuations focused on the coastal regions of Pinar del Rio and Isla Juventud.
All buses and trains to and from Havana have also been suspended until further notice. "It will produce a storm surge and torrential rains in the western part of the country," warned Cuban meteorologist Jose Rubiera.
The BBC's Michael Voss, in Havana, says that the Caribbean island has one of the most efficient disaster preparedness and evacuation organisations in the region, but that the poor condition of housing in the capital could pose additional risks in a major storm. In Havana, hotels and shops have been boarding up their windows and all buses and trains to and from the capital have been suspended until further notice.
On the US Gulf Coast, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it expected a "huge number" of residents would be told to leave the region over the weekend. 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.
Gustav's approach came as New Orleans buried some of the last unidentified victims of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city in 2005. 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.
Cuba concern Katrina dead
As of 1000 GMT on Saturday, Gustav had become a "major" category three hurricane with wind speeds of up to 185km/h (115mph) as it passed about 220km (135 miles) south-east of Isla de la Juventud and about 410km (255 miles) east-south-east of the western tip of Cuba, the US National Hurricane Center said. Gustav claimed the lives of at least 59 people in Haiti, eight in the Dominican Republic and four in Jamaica, where heavy rains caused flooding and strong winds tore roofs off houses.
We look ahead to a better day, as we also prepare ourselves for another threat Ray NaginMayor of New Orleans class="" href="/1/hi/world/7588568.stm">Preparing for Gustav The hurricane killed at least eight people in Dominican Republic
The storm will move away from the Cayman Islands on Saturday morning at about 19km/h (12mph) before passing through western Cuba later in the afternoon and into the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. New Orleans buried the last seven unclaimed bodies of Katrina at a memorial site on Friday.
Gustav has already claimed the lives of at least 59 people in Haiti, eight in the Dominican Republic and four in Jamaica, where heavy rains caused flooding and strong winds tore roofs off houses.
There have so far been no reports of any casualties from the Cayman Islands, where storm surge and heavy rains flooded streets overnight.
The government did not impose a curfew, but urged people to remain indoors to avoid interfering with emergency workers.
Gustav's projected path also takes it over the oil-producing Gulf of Mexico, where workers have been evacuated from several rigs.
Katrina compassion
New Orleans buried the last seven unclaimed bodies of Katrina at a memorial site on Friday as the biggest storm to hit the region since approached.
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 1982FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ftTHREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Includes Hurricane Katrina. TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ftONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre
"We look ahead to a better day, as we also prepare ourselves for another threat," said Mayor Ray Nagin.
Later, Mr Nagin said an evacuation order was likely, though not before Saturday.
Gustav is forecast to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast anywhere from south Texas to Florida by Tuesday, prompting four states to plan large-scale evacuations.Gustav is forecast to make landfall on the US Gulf Coast anywhere from south Texas to Florida by Tuesday, prompting four states to 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.
US President George W Bush has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana and Texas, allowing the federal government to co-ordinate disaster relief and provide assistance in storm-affected areas. 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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