A hurricane has hit Cuba, knocking out communications and forcing the evacuation of 750,000 people from their homes.
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A satellite image of Hurricane Michelle. Cuba is pictured just above the storm with southern Florida just above the island at top of image.
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The government has also cut off power on the island after the 130mph Hurricane Michelle hit.
Fidel Castro likened the storm, which entered Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, to a US-funded invasion in 1961.
Forecasters say the storm has probably peaked and is hovering over the northern part of the island.
The Florida Keys were evacuated as meteorologists warned that the island chain would probably be hit.
It is also expected to reach the Bahamas today.
There have been no immediate reports of deaths or injuries in Cuba and the only confirmed damage was to a state television transmitting facility on the Isle of Youth, off the main island's southern coast.
President Castro called an impromptu news conference in Havana late last night , saying 750,000 people had been evacuated.
He compared the hurricane to the invasion by a CIA-funded army of Cuban exiles that landed there in a botched attempt to overthrow him 40 years ago.
He said: "Our people are well organised, they have experience. The greatest success will be to keep the number of victims low."
PA