The center of Tropical Storm Gustav is pictured over the Caribbean Sea in this NOAA satellite image taken early Aug.  29, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HAVANA, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cuban leader Raul Castro Friday verified the preventive actions taken in the west of the country to face the tropical storm Gustav, which has a possibility to become the biggest hurricane since the Katrina in 2005.

    In the western province of Pinar del Rio, Castro talked with officials to know about the preventive action plan, and showed his confidence in the people's training to face the storm, according to a TV news bulletin.

    Weather forecast showed Gustav was moving toward Great Caiman and Cuba on Friday noon, being expected to strike the center of the region with a wind speed of up to 150 km per hour.

    Civil Defense National Staff received cyclonic alert in the west of Cuba, while the eastern side was still on the watch for rainfalls, flooding and state of the dams.

    The seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic season has killed at least 59 people and injured 22 others alone in Haiti, authorities said Thursday.

    And in Jamaica, Gustav has caused three deaths and two people missing, besides damage to houses and public facilities.