A man stands amidst the remains of his home as the eye of Hurricane Gustav passes in Los Palacios, 100 km (62 miles) west of Havana August 30, 2008. The Category 4 storm swept across Cuba in a matter of hours and now poses a threat to Gulf oil fields on a projected path that could take it ashore near New Orleans, still recovering from Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

A man works cleaning an area of cultivation of bananas fallen, after the eye of Hurricane Gustav passes in Cienfuegos August 30, 2008. Ferocious Hurricane Gustav moved into the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico on Saturday where it was expected to strengthen and threaten New Orleans after its 150 mile per hour (240 kph) winds cut a swath of destruction through western Cuba. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HAVANA, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Tropical storm Gustav strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane as it churned into western Cuba Saturday and is now on its way to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. coast.

    Gustav, with 240 kmph winds, poured heavy rains, knocked down power lines and uprooted plants as it swept across Cuba's western Pinar del Rio province, the country's main tobacco-growing region.

    Authorities have evacuated some 250,000 people in four western provinces. No lives have been lost due to the well-organized evacuation, Cuban officials said.

    In the country's Havana province, where the capital is located, the storm emptied streets and severed power lines in many cities. Some 77,000 people have been evacuated across the province.

People walk past a destroyed car as Hurricane Gustav passes in Los Palacios, 100 km (62 miles) west of Havana August 30, 2008. The Category 4 storm swept across Cuba in a matter of hours and now poses a threat to Gulf oil fields on a projected path that could take it ashore near New Orleans, still recovering from Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Forecasters predict the hurricane is likely to strengthen into a ferocious Category 5 as it tears into the Gulf of Mexico.

    In anticipation of the deadly hurricane, three-quarters of the offshore oil fields have been shut down in the Gulf, where there are some 4,000 platforms producing a quarter of the United States' crude oil and 15 percent of its natural gas.

    Gustav is also likely to strike New Orleans, the U.S. city devastated by Hurricane Katrina three years ago, as early as Monday.

    New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has ordered the city to be evacuated.

    John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and his running mate Sarah Palin will fly to Mississippi Sunday to check on safety measures in place.

    Gustav, the seventh tropical storm of the Atlantic season, has killed at least 86 people in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica. Some 59 people were killed and 22 injured in Haiti alone.

The center of Tropical Storm Gustav is pictured over the Caribbean Sea in this NOAA satellite image taken early August 29, 2008. Gustav, which strengthened back to a hurricane on Friday as it headed toward the Cayman Islands, was expected to build to a dangerous Category 3 storm by the time it hits land in the United States on Tuesday, U.S. emergency officials said.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

California relief workers ready to help as Gustav hits U.S. Gulf Coast

    LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Relief workers and law enforcement agencies in California are gearing up to provide assistance if Hurricane Gustav, which is expected to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast Monday, is as destructive as many fear.

    Seven volunteers will join about 25 paid staff and volunteers from the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles and at least two California task forces already staging in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, a Red Cross spokesman said Saturday. Full story

Thousands evacuate New Orleans in advance of hurricane Gustav

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thousands fled New Orleans, La., Saturday as Hurricane Gustav bore down on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

    Cars packed with children, suitcases and pet carriers jammed roadways leading north and west out of the city, U.S. TV networks reported.

    By the end of the day, city officials hoped to evacuate at least 30,000 people who lack transportation or are too sick or old to get out on their own.  Full story