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Cuba hammered by Hurricane Ike Cuba hammered by Hurricane Ike
(about 4 hours later)
Hurricane Ike has been battering eastern Cuba with giant waves and torrential rain but it weakened slightly as it made landfall. Hurricane Ike has been battering eastern Cuba with giant waves and torrential rain but has weakened slightly as it made landfall.
The Category Two storm's maximum sustained winds are still more than 165km/h (105mph). The Category Two storm is still carrying maximum sustained winds near 160km/h (100mph).
Some homes along the coast, where some 800,000 people have been evacuated, have been damaged beyond repair. Some homes on the coast, from where about 800,000 people have been evacuated, are damaged beyond repair.
Earlier, Ike killed 61 people in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80% of homes on the main Turks and Caicos islands.Earlier, Ike killed 61 people in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80% of homes on the main Turks and Caicos islands.
Hurricane Ike's projected pathEnlarge Map
The Cuban Meteorology Institute said the eye of the hurricane came ashore near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin about 510 miles (823km) south-east of the capital Havana.The Cuban Meteorology Institute said the eye of the hurricane came ashore near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin about 510 miles (823km) south-east of the capital Havana.
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220865922/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220865922/html/1.stm', '1220865942', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=466,height=329,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Hurricane Ike's predicted path href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220865922/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_enl_1220865922/html/1.stm', '1220865942', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=466,height=329,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >Enlarge Image The storm surge flooded streets in the eastern part of the island as it made landfall.
The ferocious winds have torn the roofs off buildings, knocked down trees and destroyed coffee plantations and sugar cane fields.
At 1500 GMT, the storm was travelling west centred about 70km (45 miles) west-south-west of the town of Camaguey and was poised to move back over water and push along the southern coast of Cuba, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
The move over water could strengthen the hurricane before it makes a turn to the west-north-west later on Monday.
It should then hit land again in western Cuba heading in the direction of the capital, Havana, the NHC said.
The storm left rubble strewn in the streets of Camaguey
With Hurricane Gustav striking just a week ago, Cuba's internationally acclaimed emergency services are being stretched to the limit, the BBC's Michael Voss reports from Havana.With Hurricane Gustav striking just a week ago, Cuba's internationally acclaimed emergency services are being stretched to the limit, the BBC's Michael Voss reports from Havana.
Gustav caused serious damage to the western side of the island, damaging almost 100,000 homes.Gustav caused serious damage to the western side of the island, damaging almost 100,000 homes.
"In all of Cuba's history, we have never had two hurricanes this close together," Jose Rubiera, head of Cuba's meteorological service, told state TV."In all of Cuba's history, we have never had two hurricanes this close together," Jose Rubiera, head of Cuba's meteorological service, told state TV.
Windows shatter Havana alert
Ike is forecast to reach Havana early on Tuesday morning.Ike is forecast to reach Havana early on Tuesday morning.
The storm left rubble strewn in the streets of Camaguey
A direct hit on the densely populated city of two million people with its precarious colonial buildings could be devastating, our correspondent says.A direct hit on the densely populated city of two million people with its precarious colonial buildings could be devastating, our correspondent says.
In the city of Holguin, a hotel worker named Carmela told Reuters news agency: "There is lot of worry, windows are beginning to break. There's a lot of water, it's raining very heavily."
Among those evacuated before the arrival of Ike were 15,000 tourists.
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 seasonRED 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 season
In the Camaguey region, in the path of the hurricane, resident Ramon Olivera was preparing to leave by motorcycle as municipal workers boarded up banks and restaurants. The city has been put on alert as authorities prepared to evacuate residents from some of the crumbling, older buildings.
"There's no fear here but one has to be prepared - it could hit us pretty hard," he told The Associated Press. Among those evacuated from Cuba before the arrival of Ike were 15,000 tourists.
To the north, in the Florida Keys, authorities called off an evacuation order as it appeared the storm would pass to the south.
But residents who had left the string of islands were urged to stay away until Wednesday until it was clear which way Ike was heading.
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency and warned coastal residents to be prepared to move inland for the second time in 10 days.
The NHC said it was still too early to tell which direction Ike would move in once it entered the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday night.
Haitian appealHaitian appeal
Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, endured the onslaught of four tropical storms in a three week period. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, has endured the onslaught of four tropical storms in a three-week period.
Heavy rains and flooding sparked by the outer bands of Hurricane Ike killed at least 61 people in Cabaret, to the north of the capital Port-au-Prince.
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
Heavy rains and flooding sparked by the outer bands of the storm killed at least 61 people in Cabaret, to the north of the capital Port-au-Prince.
"The whole village is flooded," said local civil protection official Moise Jean-Pierre. "The death toll could go higher.""The whole village is flooded," said local civil protection official Moise Jean-Pierre. "The death toll could go higher."
The destruction in Haiti has been described as catastrophic.The destruction in Haiti has been described as catastrophic.
Police said 500 people were confirmed dead from recent Tropical Storm Hanna while others were still missing and the number could rise.Police said 500 people were confirmed dead from recent Tropical Storm Hanna while others were still missing and the number could rise.
The newly installed Prime Minister, Michele Pierre Louis, has launched a fresh appeal for international aid.The newly installed Prime Minister, Michele Pierre Louis, has launched a fresh appeal for international aid.
He called in particular for helicopters to bring those left stranded by the floods to safety. Many lived for days on their rooftops to escape the flood waters.He called in particular for helicopters to bring those left stranded by the floods to safety. Many lived for days on their rooftops to escape the flood waters.
Florida threat
Ike has been moving westwards at 20km/h (13mph) and is expected to make a 30-hour track along the centre of Cuba, although weakening on the way, the US National Hurricane Center says.
It has been downgraded to a Category Two storm, but the NHC said it was still potentially very dangerous.
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".


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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