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 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.

RESCUERS in inflatable rafts and amphibious vehicles pulled nearly 250 people from flooded homes yesterday after huge waves churned by Hurricane Wilma flooded the capital’s coastal highway and adjacent neighbourhoods of old, crumbling buildings.