A man looks at waves pounding Havana's Malecon as Hurricane Ike approaches in Havana September 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    HAVANA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hurricane Ike left the Cuban territory on Tuesday after killing four people and causing severe damages to houses, electricity, communications and agriculture in the Caribbean country.

    The eye of the storm was moving into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on its way to the U.S. Coast.

    Cuba's Civil Defense Department Tuesday decreed a recuperative phase for the eastern region which was affected most by the storm.

    Ike hit the island country twice -- the first time on Sunday from the east with gusts and rains. On Tuesday it reached the western province of Pinar del Rio.

    Fourteen Cuban regions received cyclone alert for the first time in their history.