Tropical storm Fay hits Cuba
Monday, 18 Aug 2008 11:10
Tropical storm Fay smashes into Cuba's south-western coast
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Tropical storm Fay has smashed into Cuba's south-western coast this morning with winds measuring 50mph and heavy rain.
The National Hurricane Centre reported that at 05:00 local time (10:00 BST) the storm was located over inland Cuba, warning that as much as 8in of rain may fall during the coming hours.
It is said to be moving north-northwest at about 12mph and is expected to hit the Florida Straits later on Monday.
The storm will then move onto the Florida Keys at some stage tonight, by which stage winds are predicted to have reached around 74mph.
In Cuba, low-lying parts of Havana have been evacuated with fears of flooding and the possibility of collapsed buildings.
In Haiti, about 50 people are reported to have died today after a bus was swept away as it attempted to cross a river swollen by the tropical storm.
Over the weekend, some 2,000 people were evacuated in the Dominican Republic as winds destroyed hundreds of properties.
Miami residents are also said to be stocking up on supplies in anticipation of the storm's arrival.
Fay is the sixth tropical storm of the year.