Havana on maximum alert

2008-09-08 17:15

Havana - Cuba raised its hurricane alert level to maximum on Monday for the capital Havana as deadly Hurricane Ike raged westward across the island towards the city of 2.2 million people, Cuban state television announced.

Thirteen of Cuba's 14 provinces have now been placed on maximum alert according to bulletins by the civil defence forces, as the storm battered the island with torrential rain, massive waves and winds of 155km/h.

Havana is a key concern during storms, particularly the neighbourhood of Old Havana where thousands of fragile, centuries-old buildings are prone to cave-ins after heavy rains.

Ike is forecast to hit Havana at midday Tuesday.

- AFP