Storm fury: India battered, US braces
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-22 06:21

Electricity, gas and water services were interrupted in neighbourhoods around the capital of 2 million and some streets were flooded. Havana's international airport was closed to incoming and outgoing flights.

The upgrade put Rita in the same strength classification as Hurricane Katrina, which devastated parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama last month.

Rita's most likely future track would take it to Texas by the end of the week, raising fears the sprawling storm could bring heavy rains to flooded New Orleans and threaten the recovery of oil production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

With Rita looming, Louisiana declared a state of emergency and New Orleans, 80 per cent of which was flooded when Katrina shattered its protective levees, was taking no chances.

Mayor Ray Nagin said two busloads of people had been evacuated already and 500 other buses were ready to roll.

"We're a lot smarter this time around," he said. "We've learned a lot of hard lessons."

A major hurricane could send a 6-metre storm surge over the Texas coast by Saturday.

The Navy began moving its remaining fleet of Katrina relief vessels, including the Iwo Jima, away from the Gulf Coast to ride out any potential battering from Rita.