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'Catastrophic' storm nears Texas 'Catastrophic' storm hits Texas
(40 minutes later)
Hurricane Ike is nearing the Gulf coast of Texas and is expected to hit land within hours, causing "potentially catastrophic" flooding and damage. Hurricane Ike has made landfall on the Gulf coast of Texas, where it is expected to cause "potentially catastrophic" flooding and damage.
US officials warned as many as 100,000 homes could be affected by flooding. The National Hurricane Center said the storm's eye hit Galveston at 0710 GMT with winds of up to 110 mph (175km/h).
Officials in Galveston, which is on the track of the storm, fear for the safety of 23,000 residents who have ignored a mandatory evacuation order. Much of the city, which in 1900 was the scene of the country's deadliest hurricane, is already under water after a 12ft (3.7m) storm surge.
Much of the city, on a small island off the coast of Texas, is already under water after a 12ft (3.7m) storm surge. There are fears for 23,000 residents who have ignored orders to evacuate.
The authorities in Galveston, which lies on a small island off the coast of Texas, have imposed a curfew until dawn, the city had lost power and a number of houses were on fire.
Hurricane Ike could have 'catastrophic effects'Hurricane Ike could have 'catastrophic effects'
Galveston was also the scene of the country's deadliest hurricane, in 1900, which killed at least 6,000 people. Residents of low-lying homes were told they risked "certain death" if they stayed. Before it hit land, Ike was unleashing storm force winds over a distance of up to 275 miles (443km) - the length of the Texas coastline - from its centre.
As Hurricane Ike approached, the authorities imposed a curfew until dawn, the city had lost power and a number of houses were on fire.
Residents of low-lying homes were told they risked "certain death" if they stayed.
Calls for rescue will be ignored until daybreak because emergency workers have been pulled off the streets, the Houston Chronicle newspaper reported.Calls for rescue will be ignored until daybreak because emergency workers have been pulled off the streets, the Houston Chronicle newspaper reported.
"We don't know what we are going to find. We hope we will find the people who are left here alive and well," Galveston mayor Lynda Ann Thomas said."We don't know what we are going to find. We hope we will find the people who are left here alive and well," Galveston mayor Lynda Ann Thomas said.
Emory Sallie, 44, was one of those who chose to stay behind despite warnings of a 20ft-25ft (6m-7.6m) storm surge.Emory Sallie, 44, was one of those who chose to stay behind despite warnings of a 20ft-25ft (6m-7.6m) storm surge.
"If it ain't your time you ain't going anywhere," he told AP news agency, while walking and drinking a beer near his home."If it ain't your time you ain't going anywhere," he told AP news agency, while walking and drinking a beer near his home.
The Texas authorities have laid on more than 1,000 buses to facilitate the mass evacuation. More than 70 buses took residents to the state capital, Austin.
In Galveston, 75 buses took residents to the state capital, Austin.
Weak and chronically ill hospital patients were also being moved.Weak and chronically ill hospital patients were also being moved.
'Very large''Very large'
More than a million people in Texas have been advised to leave their homes before Ike hits. US officials warned as many as 100,000 homes in Texas could be affected by flooding.
At 0700 GMT on Saturday, the "very large" hurricane was about 10 miles (15km) south-east of Galveston, with winds of around 110 mph (175km/h). More than 1,000 buses have been laid on to facilitate an evacuation order affecting more than a million people.
The US National Hurricane Center said Ike could grow from a Category Two to a Category Three storm - a "major hurricane" - by the time it reaches the coast.
RECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August Ike eyewitness: 'I am afraid'Flashback: Galevston's great stormRECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August Ike eyewitness: 'I am afraid'Flashback: Galevston's great storm
Already its tropical storm force winds extend up to 275 miles (443km) - the length of the Texas coastline - from its centre. The massive system is causing flooding along the Louisiana coast, still recovering from Hurricane Gustav earlier this month.
The massive system is buffeting Texas and causing flooding along the Louisiana coast, still recovering from Hurricane Gustav earlier this month.
In Houston, where the winds are threatening to shake skyscrapers, people have been told to shelter at home, board up their properties and stockpile supplies.In Houston, where the winds are threatening to shake skyscrapers, people have been told to shelter at home, board up their properties and stockpile supplies.
Authorities are trying to avoid a repeat of 2005, when some 110 people died in Houston during a chaotic evacuation in the face of Hurricane Rita.Authorities are trying to avoid a repeat of 2005, when some 110 people died in Houston during a chaotic evacuation in the face of Hurricane Rita.
Ike has already caused devastation in Cuba and Haiti, where hundreds of people have died in several tropical storms over the last month.Ike has already caused devastation in Cuba and Haiti, where hundreds of people have died in several tropical storms over the last month.
The hurricane's predicted path will take it past Galveston and on to Houston, home to America's biggest oil refinery and Nasa's Johnson Space Center.The hurricane's predicted path will take it past Galveston and on to Houston, home to America's biggest oil refinery and Nasa's Johnson Space Center.
Latest Hurricane Ike weather forecastLatest Hurricane Ike weather forecast
"Our nation is facing what is by any means a potentially catastrophic hurricane," said US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff."Our nation is facing what is by any means a potentially catastrophic hurricane," said US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
He added: "This storm is so big in fact that its impact is already being felt all along the Gulf Coast."He added: "This storm is so big in fact that its impact is already being felt all along the Gulf Coast."
In the Gulf of Mexico, ports are shut and almost all energy production has been suspended as a precaution, although Ike was expected to miss most of the installations.In the Gulf of Mexico, ports are shut and almost all energy production has been suspended as a precaution, although Ike was expected to miss most of the installations.
The storm would be the first major hurricane to hit a US metropolitan area since Katrina devastated New Orleans three years ago.The storm would be the first major hurricane to hit a US metropolitan area since Katrina devastated New Orleans three years ago.
President George W Bush has declared a federal emergency in Texas, allowing funds to be freed to help the state deal with the storm.President George W Bush has declared a federal emergency in Texas, allowing funds to be freed to help the state deal with the storm.
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