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Caribbean lashed by Hurricane Ike Caribbean lashed by Hurricane Ike
(about 1 hour later)
Thousands of people have taken refuge across the Caribbean as one of the season's fiercest hurricanes barrels across the islands, on course for Cuba.Thousands of people have taken refuge across the Caribbean as one of the season's fiercest hurricanes barrels across the islands, on course for Cuba.
At least 37 people were reported dead in Haiti as torrential rains fell on already flooded parts of the country.
The Turks and Caicos prime minister was quoted as saying that 80% of homes on the main islands had been damaged.The Turks and Caicos prime minister was quoted as saying that 80% of homes on the main islands had been damaged.
The British Red Cross has launched an appeal for those fleeing their homes. The storm has hammered the region with winds up to 135mph (215km/h) and is due to hit the Cuban coast on Sunday night.
The storm has hammered the region with winds up to 135mph (215km/h) and is due to hit the Cuban coast on Sunday night, with the Florida Keys also at risk.
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 websiteRED 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
Ike has also dumped rain on Haiti, and destroyed the only bridge giving access to the flooded city of Gonaives, which is still reeling from other recent storms.
At 2100 GMT, the centre of the hurricane was about 75 miles east of Cuba, moving at about 14mph (22km/h) towards the island, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).At 2100 GMT, the centre of the hurricane was about 75 miles east of Cuba, moving at about 14mph (22km/h) towards the island, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
It has weakened slightly, from Category Four to Three, but the NHC said it was still potentially very dangerous.It has weakened slightly, from Category Four to Three, but the NHC said it was still potentially very dangerous.
See Ike's predicted path See Ike's predicted path
"Oh my God, I can't describe it," said Janice McKinney, who was running a shelter for about 50 people in a boarded-up church on Great Inagua Island in the south-eastern Bahamas."Oh my God, I can't describe it," said Janice McKinney, who was running a shelter for about 50 people in a boarded-up church on Great Inagua Island in the south-eastern Bahamas.
The pastor was leading the congregation in prayer as the wind howled outside, she told the Associated Press news agency.The pastor was leading the congregation in prayer as the wind howled outside, she told the Associated Press news agency.
Thousands of tourists and residents left the normally tranquil Turks and Caicos islands as the storm closed in, but hundreds more sought refuge there - some in shelters, others in closets and under stairwells, AP reported.Thousands of tourists and residents left the normally tranquil Turks and Caicos islands as the storm closed in, but hundreds more sought refuge there - some in shelters, others in closets and under stairwells, AP reported.
RECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August In pictures: Hurricane IkeEyewitness: Waiting for IkeGuide: How hurricanes formRECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August In pictures: Hurricane IkeEyewitness: Waiting for IkeGuide: How hurricanes form
"[People were] just holding on for life," Turks and Caicos Prime Minister Michael Misick was quoted as saying."[People were] just holding on for life," Turks and Caicos Prime Minister Michael Misick was quoted as saying.
"They got hit really, really bad. A lot of people have lost their houses, and we will have to see what we can do to accommodate," he said."They got hit really, really bad. A lot of people have lost their houses, and we will have to see what we can do to accommodate," he said.
The British Red Cross hopes to provide relief to people in the Turks and Caicos islands - a UK overseas territory - and in the wider region, by providing a supply plane, more shelters, hygiene kits, food, clothing and bedding.The British Red Cross hopes to provide relief to people in the Turks and Caicos islands - a UK overseas territory - and in the wider region, by providing a supply plane, more shelters, hygiene kits, food, clothing and bedding.
Relief operations manager Pete Garrett told the BBC the extent of the damage had not yet been established but the existing shelters had been crammed full of people overnight.Relief operations manager Pete Garrett told the BBC the extent of the damage had not yet been established but the existing shelters had been crammed full of people overnight.
Forecasters say Ike could unleash up to 12in (30cm) of rain in its wake, including on Haiti, where earlier storms left at least 600 dead.Forecasters say Ike could unleash up to 12in (30cm) of rain in its wake, including on Haiti, where earlier storms left at least 600 dead.
The battered country was hit with fresh downpours as Ike's outer rain band passed over its north-west coast, while the NHC has warned of "life-threatening flash floods and mudslides over mountainous terrain". The battered country was hit with fresh downpours as Ike's outer rain band passed over its north-west coast.
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BBC Weather tracks Hurricane IkeBBC Weather tracks Hurricane Ike
Dozens of people were found dead on Sunday in flooded Cabaret, a town north of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Meanwhile, the only bridge giving access to the flooded Haitian city of Gonaives, which is still reeling from other recent storms, collapsed.
The UN children's charity Unicef says some 650,000 Haitians have been affected by flooding caused by Tropical Storm Hanna last week, while more bad weather will further hamper the aid effort there.The UN children's charity Unicef says some 650,000 Haitians have been affected by flooding caused by Tropical Storm Hanna last week, while more bad weather will further hamper the aid effort there.
Forecasters say Ike could strengthen on its way to Cuba, threatening to devastate the island's sugar cane fields and putting the crumbling colonial buildings of the capital, Havana, at risk.Forecasters say Ike could strengthen on its way to Cuba, threatening to devastate the island's sugar cane fields and putting the crumbling colonial buildings of the capital, Havana, at risk.
In Havana, residents have been stocking up on petrol, candles and canned food, after a television weather presenter said "almost the entire country is in the danger zone", AP reports.In Havana, residents have been stocking up on petrol, candles and canned food, after a television weather presenter said "almost the entire country is in the danger zone", AP reports.
On its current track the storm could threaten the islands of the Florida Keys by Tuesday. Some residents have received evacuation orders.On its current track the storm could threaten the islands of the Florida Keys by Tuesday. Some residents have received evacuation orders.
Emergency management director Craig Fugate, urged them to move soon, or they "may find the escape route blocked by a hurricane".Emergency management director Craig Fugate, urged them to move soon, or they "may find the escape route blocked by a hurricane".
Resources stretchedResources stretched
The destruction in Haiti has been described as catastrophic.The destruction in Haiti has been described as catastrophic.
Hurricane Ike has brought fresh misery to HaitiHurricane Ike has brought fresh misery to Haiti
Police said 500 people were confirmed dead from recent Tropical Storm Hanna but that others are still missing and the number could rise.Police said 500 people were confirmed dead from recent Tropical Storm Hanna but that others are still missing and the number could rise.
Aid workers say people's spirits are running low after the successive storms.Aid workers say people's spirits are running low after the successive storms.
"Food supplies and water are scarce and the price of the food that's left is rising," said Parnell Denis from Oxfam in Gonaives, the port city hardest hit by Hanna, where floodwaters reached nearly 5m (16ft) high."Food supplies and water are scarce and the price of the food that's left is rising," said Parnell Denis from Oxfam in Gonaives, the port city hardest hit by Hanna, where floodwaters reached nearly 5m (16ft) high.
Hanna struck in the wake of Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Fay two weeks ago, which left about 120 people dead in Haiti.Hanna struck in the wake of Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Fay two weeks ago, which left about 120 people dead in Haiti.
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