Ike Devastates Cuba, Heads Towards Gulf Of Mexico

September 8, 2008 5:38 a.m. EST

Havana, Cuba (AHN) - Category 2 hurricane Ike unleashed its fury across Cuba, destroying houses and toppling trees with its powerful winds Monday.

The destruction brought by Ike in Cuba came as the U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm would hit Cuban capital of Havana, before heading towards the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday morning.

Ike is also expected to hit the state of Louisiana, the center said.

Cuban vice president Carlos Lage addressed the nation over television and said, "We are preparing for a strong hit."

An estimated over 770,000 sought temporary shelters or moved to higher ground to move away from Ike's path which has killed at least 319 people in Haiti.

The Category 2 hurricane also left destruction in Bahamas earlier.

Officials in Florida ordered the evacuation of residents and tourists particularly in the Keys, expecting Ike to hit on Tuesday.

According to the National Hurricane Center at 5 a.m. the center of the hurricane was located 40 miles east-southeast of Cuba. Ike is moving toward the west at 15 mph. The current maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph.