The Cuban government evacuated areas of the
country's west as hurricane Gustav approached, prompting authorities to elevate
to the highest state of readiness.
The hurricane strengthened into a "major" category three storm
as it neared the coast, and there were fears it could develop into a category
four storm with winds of over 200 kilometres an hour.
More than 60,000 people were evacuated from low-lying coastal areas in Pinar
del Rio and Isla de la Juventud, and medical and emergency rescue teams were on
alert.
Gustav has already at least 59 lives in in Haiti, eight in the Dominican
Republic and four in Jamaica. The hurricane's path was expected later to
include the Gulf of Mexico, where workers have been evacuated from several
rigs.
Weather services anticipated that Gustav would reach Cuba by Saturday afternoon
local time.
Gustav reached hurricane strength Friday, and US authorities
expressed concern that the storm could hit the states of Louisiana and Mississippi with full force, three years after the devastating hurricanes Katrina and Rita, dpa reported.
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