Cuba has begun to feel the force of Hurricane Sandy, as strong winds and heavy rain batter the capital, Havana.
A hurricane warning has been issued for the caribbean island, with Sandy expected to make landfall as a category one storm.
Sandy had earlier battered Jamaica with ferocious winds and rain, causing rivers to burst their banks.
Maximum wind speeds were 130 kilometres an hour, with gusts of up to 160.
This is the first direct hit of the eye of a hurricane on the island for 24 years. The national airport was closed and 48-hour curfews were in place in many large towns.
