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Four dead as hurricane hits Cuba Deadly hurricane heads for Havana
(about 4 hours later)
Hurricane Ike has moved back out to sea south of Cuba after battering the east of the island with torrential rain and giant waves, leaving chaos in its wake. Hurricane Ike is heading towards the Cuban capital, Havana, after causing widespread flooding and damage to the country's eastern provinces.
Forecasters say Ike has weakened to a Category One Storm, but could still strengthen due to high sea temperatures before hitting Havana early on Tuesday. Tens of thousands of people are being moved from vulnerable areas and crumbling buildings in the capital.
Four people are reported dead, and thousands have been evacuated. Ike battered the east of the island with torrential rain and giant waves on Monday, killing four people.
Ike earlier caused 61 deaths in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80% of the homes in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It has weakened to a Category One storm, but forecasters say it could strengthen before hitting Havana.
Hurricane Ike's projected pathEnlarge Map Ike earlier caused 61 deaths in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80% of the homes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The hurricane first came ashore in Cuba on Monday near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin, about 510 miles (825km) south-east of Havana.The hurricane first came ashore in Cuba on Monday near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin, about 510 miles (825km) south-east of Havana.
Hurricane Ike's projected pathEnlarge Map
State television broadcast pictures of the accompanying storm surge washing over coastal defences and sending waves crashing into buildings.State television broadcast pictures of the accompanying storm surge washing over coastal defences and sending waves crashing into buildings.
Sustained winds of about 160km/h (100mph) tore the roofs off many buildings, knocked down trees and destroyed crops.
One person was killed by a falling tree, an elderly woman died when her house collapsed and two others were electrocuted.One person was killed by a falling tree, an elderly woman died when her house collapsed and two others were electrocuted.
The hurricane then weakened slightly and was downgraded to a Category Two storm, although the sustained winds of about 160km/h (100mph) tore the roofs off many buildings, knocked down trees and destroyed crops. As Ike moved back out to sea, the US National Hurricane Center downgraded it to a Category One hurricane after its maximum sustained winds dropped to about 130km/h (80mph).
As Ike moved back out to sea, the US National Hurricane Center downgraded it to a Category One hurricane after its maximum sustained winds dropped to about 130kmh (80mph). However, it said a slight increase in intensity was possible if the storm's centre remained over water. However, it said a slight increase in intensity was possible if the storm's centre remained over water.
The storm left rubble strewn in the streets of Camaguey, in central Cuba
The eye of the storm is forecast to continue westward along Cuba's southern coast before hitting western Cuba on Tuesday morning and emerging into the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night.The eye of the storm is forecast to continue westward along Cuba's southern coast before hitting western Cuba on Tuesday morning and emerging into the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night.
The storm left rubble strewn in the streets of Camaguey
The Cuban authorities have put the entire population on maximum alert and hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated to shelters or moved to higher ground.The Cuban authorities have put the entire population on maximum alert and hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated to shelters or moved to higher ground.
With Hurricane Gustav striking just a week ago, Cuba's internationally acclaimed emergency services have been stretched to the limit, the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says.With Hurricane Gustav striking just a week ago, Cuba's internationally acclaimed emergency services have been stretched to the limit, the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says.
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," said Jose Rubiera, head of Cuba's meteorological service."In all of Cuba's history, we have never had two hurricanes this close together," said Jose Rubiera, head of Cuba's meteorological service.
Havana alertHavana alert
Ike is forecast to reach Havana early on Tuesday. A direct hit on Havana, a densely populated city of two million people, with crumbling colonial buildings, could be devastating.
The capital has been put on alert as authorities prepared to evacuate residents from some of the older buildings.
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
A direct hit on the densely populated city of two million people, with its precarious 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.
The capital has been put on alert as authorities prepared to evacuate residents from some of the crumbling, older buildings. 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.
"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.
North of Cuba, in the Florida Keys, authorities called off an evacuation order as it appeared the storm would pass to the south.North of Cuba, 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. 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.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. But 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, has 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, causing 331 deaths.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7603227.stm">In pictures: Hurricane Ike class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7602704.stm">Eyewitness: Waiting for Ike class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/4588149.stm">Guide: How hurricanes form 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 form
"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.
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.
She called in particular for helicopters to bring those left stranded by the floods to safety.She called in particular for helicopters to bring those left stranded by the floods to safety.
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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