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Hurricane Ike closes in on Havana Hurricane Ike closes in on Havana
(about 3 hours later)
Hurricane Ike has powered ashore south of Cuba's capital, Havana, bringing with it fierce winds and heavy rains.Hurricane Ike has powered ashore south of Cuba's capital, Havana, bringing with it fierce winds and heavy rains.
Huge waves are pounding the capital's seafront promenade as the eye of the storm moves closer, while there are floods and mudslides on higher ground.Huge waves are pounding the capital's seafront promenade as the eye of the storm moves closer, while there are floods and mudslides on higher ground.
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from Havana ahead of the storm's second landfall this week.Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from Havana ahead of the storm's second landfall this week.
Four people are known to have died so far in the storm, which battered the east of the island on Monday.Four people are known to have died so far in the storm, which battered the east of the island on Monday.
Hurricane Ike's projected pathEnlarge Map It is the first time in several years that a hurricane has claimed lives in Cuba, which is renowned for its well-organised mass evacuations.Hurricane Ike's projected pathEnlarge Map It is the first time in several years that a hurricane has claimed lives in Cuba, which is renowned for its well-organised mass evacuations.
One person was killed by a falling tree, an elderly woman died when her house collapsed and two others were electrocuted.
State television said almost 1.25 million people had been moved to shelters so far - more than one tenth of the island's population.State television said almost 1.25 million people had been moved to shelters so far - more than one tenth of the island's population.
The authorities said late on Monday that a further 175,000 people were being evacuated from Havana; particularly those living in old, unstable apartment blocks that may not be able to withstand a direct hit by hurricane-force winds. A further 175,000 people were evacuated from Havana; particularly those living in unstable apartment blocks that may not be able to withstand a direct hit by hurricane-force winds.
The Cuban authorities have put the entire population on maximum alert.The Cuban authorities have put the entire population on maximum alert.
Deadly pathDeadly path
The eye of the storm made its second landfall in Cuba's Pinar del Rio province, about 55 miles (88km) south-west of Havana, packing sustained winds of 80mph (130km/h).The eye of the storm made its second landfall in Cuba's Pinar del Rio province, about 55 miles (88km) south-west of Havana, packing sustained winds of 80mph (130km/h).
The Category One storm was moving west-north-west at 13mph, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.The Category One storm was moving west-north-west at 13mph, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
President Raul Castro and his brother Fidel were monitoring the storm "minute by minute", state television said.President Raul Castro and his brother Fidel were monitoring the storm "minute by minute", state television said.
RED CROSS APPEAL The charity is accepting donations to help people in the CaribbeanDonations can be made on 0845 053 53 53 or via its website Havana prepares for the worstCaribbean's devastating seasonGuide: How hurricanes form The hurricane first came ashore in Cuba on Monday near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin, about 510 miles south-east of Havana. RED CROSS APPEAL The charity is accepting donations to help people in the CaribbeanDonations can be made on 0845 053 53 53 or via its website Havana prepares for the worstCaribbean's devastating seasonGuide: How hurricanes form The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says it is still too early to tell the full extent of the economic impact wrought by Ike.
Winds of about 100mph tore the roofs off many buildings, knocked down trees and destroyed crops. Tens of thousands of buildings have been damaged and crops destroyed.
One person was killed by a falling tree, an elderly woman died when her house collapsed and two others were electrocuted. Ike first struck in Holguin province, which is home to the nickel mines, the country's top export earner. There is also likely to be an impact on the tourist industry, our correspondent says.
As Ike moved back out to sea, the US National Hurricane Center downgraded it to a Category One after its maximum sustained winds dropped to about 80mph. The storm is due to head out into the Gulf of Mexico in a few hours' time, where it is expected to pick up speed with a projected heading towards the US Gulf coast.
However, it said a slight increase in intensity was possible while the storm's centre remained over the warm Caribbean waters.
The eye of the storm is forecast to cross into the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night.
Louisiana's governor has warned coastal residents to be prepared to move inland, although the NHC said it was still too early to tell in which direction Ike would move.Louisiana's governor has warned coastal residents to be prepared to move inland, although the NHC said it was still too early to tell in which direction Ike would move.
Restoration fearsRestoration fears
A direct hit on Havana, a densely populated city of two million people, with crumbling colonial buildings, could be devastating. The United Nations cultural agency, Unesco, has offered to help the Cuban government make good any damage to heritage sites and important buildings in Havana.
RECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August In pictures: Hurricane IkeEyewitness: Waiting for IkeHurricane Ike: Cubans' stories The United Nations cultural agency, Unesco, has offered to help the Cuban government make good any damage to heritage sites and important buildings. RECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August In pictures: Hurricane IkeEyewitness: Waiting for IkeHurricane Ike: Cubans' stories The agency's director in Havana, Herman van Hooff, said that the latest storm could be a setback to restoration work.
The agency's director in Havana, Herman van Hooff, said that the latest storm could be a setback to restoration work.
"Since the [1990s] there has been a very strong management system in place for the old Havana area, and a lot has been restored since then."Since the [1990s] there has been a very strong management system in place for the old Havana area, and a lot has been restored since then.
"There is still a lot of fabric, a lot of architecture, a lot of housing that is in a fragile state, so any impact by a hurricane, be it wind or rain, is a great concern to everybody," he told the BBC."There is still a lot of fabric, a lot of architecture, a lot of housing that is in a fragile state, so any impact by a hurricane, be it wind or rain, is a great concern to everybody," he told the BBC.
Among those evacuated from Cuba before the arrival of Ike were 15,000 tourists.Among those evacuated from Cuba before the arrival of Ike were 15,000 tourists.
Cuba is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Gustav, which hit a week ago, damaging almost 100,000 homes in the west of the island. Cuba is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Gustav, which hit just over a week ago, damaging almost 100,000 homes in the west of the island.
Ike earlier caused 66 deaths in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80% of the homes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.Ike earlier caused 66 deaths in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80% of the homes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has endured the onslaught of four tropical storms in a three-week period, causing more than 550 deaths.Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has endured the onslaught of four tropical storms in a three-week period, causing more than 550 deaths.
Are you in the Caribbean? Have you been affected by the storms? What preparations have you made to deal with the adverse weather? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you in the Caribbean? Have you been affected by the storms? What preparations have you made to deal with the adverse weather? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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