Hurricane Sandy lashes Cuba, strengthens into category two

PanARMENIAN.Net - Sandy has reached south-east Cuba and strengthened into a strong category two hurricane, according to BBC News.

The hurricane was carrying maximum sustained winds of 175km/h (110mph) as it hit land just west of Santiago de Cuba, said the U.S.-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).

On Wednesday, Oct 24, one man was killed as Sandy swept over Jamaica.

A hurricane watch is in place in the Bahamas, and Florida has been placed on tropical storm watch.

The NHC said wind gusts of up to 183km/h had been reported in Santiago de Cuba. It warned the hurricane was bringing heavy rain which could "produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in areas of mountainous terrain".

Forecasters said up to 300mm of rain (11 inches) of rain was expected to fall in some areas of eastern Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Some mountainous areas of the Caribbean could see up to 500mm.

In Cuba, thousands of residents and tourists have been moved from vulnerable areas under the country's well-rehearsed hurricane evacuation procedures.

At 02:00 local time (06:00 GMT) Sandy was about 15km north-northwest of Santiago de Cuba, moving to the north-northeast at about 24km/h.

It is expected to weaken overnight as it moves across Cuba and over the central Bahamas into Friday, but it is thought likely to remain a hurricane.