Ike killed more than 50 people in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80 percent of homes on the main Turks and Caicos islands. It has weakened to a Category Three storm but remains dangerous.

The Cuban Meteorology Institute said the eye of the hurricane came ashore near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin about 823km south-east of Havana.

With Hurricane Gustav striking just a week ago, Cuba's internationally acclaimed emergency services are being stretched to the limit.

Gustav has caused serious damage to the western side of the island, damaging almost 100,000 homes.

Ike is moving westwards at 20km/h and is expected to make a 30-hour track along the centre of Cuba, although weakening on the way, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.