Hundreds of thousands of people in Texas were today ordered to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ike.

As Hurricane Ike charged into the Gulf of Mexico and toward the Texas coast, officials prepared today to evacuate the first of a million residents who could be in the way of the storm’s path.

Hurricane Ike moved across the Gulf of Mexico today on its way towards the Texas coast after crashing through Cuba and toppling ageing Havana buildings.

Hurricane Ike roared south of Cuba's densely populated capital of fragile ageing buildings after tearing across the island nation, ravaging homes, killing at least four people and forcing 1.2 million to evacuate.

Hurricane Ike roared down Cuba’s spine and towards the island’s densely populated capital of fragile historic buildings after ravaging homes, forcing 1.2 million people to evacuate and killing at least four.

Hurricane Ike roared across Cuba today, blowing buildings to rubble and sending waves surging over homes.

Hurricane Ike roared across Cuba today, tearing off roofs and sending waves crashing into buildings, as 900,000 Cubans fled to shelters or higher ground and Havana residents in decaying historic buildings prepared for a direct hit.

Hurricane Ike roared on to Cuba today after destroying houses and crops on low-lying islands and worsening floods in Haiti that have already killed more than 300 people.