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Havana: Hurricane Ike weakened to Category 2 level on Monday, after it stormed through northeastern Cuba, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Ike slammed into northeastern Cuba on Sunday, roaring across with 195 kph winds, torrential rains and massive waves.
Forecasters have said Ike could weaken to a Category 1 storm as it moves through Cuba, but could regain Category 3 strength as it nears the Gulf of Mexico.
The Cuban Meteorology Institute said Ike rushed into the Cuban coast near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin, about 823 km southeast of Havana.
State media footage showed huge waves slamming against the seawall and surging as high as some of the buildings, before flooding the streets of the city.
At least 1.1 million people had been evacuated from Cuba ahead of the storm. Authorities used buses, trucks and other transportation to move thousands of tourists from resorts along the northern coast.
Ike is moving on a dangerous path and is expected to reach the Gulf of Mexico oil fields before heading towards Louisiana and Texas. Residents in the Florida Keys were told to evacuate immediately.
At least 47 people were killed as Ike passed through Haiti, ripping roofs and uprooting trees and power lines.
It hit Turks and Caicos as a Category 4 storm with 215 kph winds, damaging 80 per cent of the houses on Grand Turk, a government spokesman said.
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