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Hurricane Paloma sweeps over Cuba Weakening storm Paloma hits Cuba
(about 3 hours later)
Hurricane Paloma has made landfall in Cuba and is slowly crossing the island. Hurricane Paloma has caused destruction in Cuba, flooding coastal areas, downing power lines and forcing the evacuation of half a million people.
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in the south and the country has been lashed by heavy rain and strong winds. But the former Category Four hurricane weakened to a tropical storm as it prepared to head towards the Bahamas.
Paloma is the fifth hurricane this season to hit Cuba. The storms have caused billions of dollars worth of damage, destroying thousands of homes.Paloma is the fifth hurricane this season to hit Cuba. The storms have caused billions of dollars worth of damage, destroying thousands of homes.
Paloma has already caused torrential rains and storm surges in some areas of the Cayman Islands. Paloma has already caused heavy rains and storm surges in the Cayman Islands.
The storm weakened from Category Four to One after it made landfall in Cuba, but is expected to head out to sea again towards the Bahamas, which have been put on alert.
'Battering waves''Battering waves'
The US National Hurricane Center says winds are still reaching 85mph (140km/h) and heavy rain could cause life-threatening flash floods and landslides. The US National Hurricane Center says winds were reaching 70mph (110km/h) and were set to weaken further.
See Hurricane Paloma's potential pathEnlarge MapSee Hurricane Paloma's potential pathEnlarge Map
Initial reports from Cuba said a key communications tower had been brought down on the south coast, interrupting electricity and phone services.Initial reports from Cuba said a key communications tower had been brought down on the south coast, interrupting electricity and phone services.
The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says there has been torrential rain and uprooted trees but the country has a well-drilled civil defence programme and there are so far no reports of fatalities.The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says there has been torrential rain and uprooted trees but the country has a well-drilled civil defence programme and there are so far no reports of fatalities.
In the Cayman Islands, schools, offices and businesses were shut and some people were moved into storm shelters.In the Cayman Islands, schools, offices and businesses were shut and some people were moved into storm shelters.
Property was damaged but there were no reports of any injuries.Property was damaged but there were no reports of any injuries.
"Our indications are that there has been minimal if any damage on Grand Cayman," said Donovan Ebanks, chairman of the Hazard Management Committee."Our indications are that there has been minimal if any damage on Grand Cayman," said Donovan Ebanks, chairman of the Hazard Management Committee.
"We really got very luck on this one," said one resident."We really got very luck on this one," said one resident.
But damage was more severe on the small island of Cayman Brac, to the east of Grand Cayman.But damage was more severe on the small island of Cayman Brac, to the east of Grand Cayman.
District commissioner Ernie Scott told AFP they had suffered "island-wide damage".District commissioner Ernie Scott told AFP they had suffered "island-wide damage".
"Probably 90 to 95% of homes and buildings have been damaged. Some have been totally devastated," he said."Probably 90 to 95% of homes and buildings have been damaged. Some have been totally devastated," he said.
Paloma is the 16th storm of the Atlantic storm season and the eighth hurricane. It earlier brought heavy rain to parts of Honduras and Nicaragua.Paloma is the 16th storm of the Atlantic storm season and the eighth hurricane. It earlier brought heavy rain to parts of Honduras and Nicaragua.
Cuba has yet to recover from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which struck on 30 August and 9 September respectively, causing billions of dollars worth of damage and destroying hundreds of thousands of homes.Cuba has yet to recover from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which struck on 30 August and 9 September respectively, causing billions of dollars worth of damage and destroying hundreds of thousands of homes.
Are you in the affected area? Please tell us what is happening where you are using the form below:Are you in the affected area? Please tell us what is happening where you are using the form below:
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