Hurricane Isidore reaches Cuba

Hurricane Isidore has buffeted Cuba’s small Isle of Youth with strong winds and drenching rains as it moved slowly on a steady track toward the western tip of the main island and the Gulf of Mexico.

Activating its highly organised civil defence programme as Isidore approached, the Cuban government asked tens of thousands of people to move to safer areas - a regular measure aimed at guaranteeing as little damage to life and property as possible.

Although still relatively weak, Isidore, the second Atlantic hurricane of the 2002 season, was expected to strengthen and drench Cuba’s western half through the weekend, with perhaps up to 30 inches, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said.