The National Hurricane Center (CNH) of the United States reported that the winds of the storm dropped to 145 kilometres per hour and predicted that it will continue to weaken as they move into western Louisiana last night and on the East Texas on Tuesday
The impact of hurricane "Gustav" in southern Louisiana (USA) was so far less devastating in what was feared, although it is still premature to confirm whether the levees in the city of New Orleans endure the pressure of water.
The governor of the state of Louisiana, Bob Jindal, said yesterday that it is still early to confirm the real impact of the hurricane, which made landfall in the small coastal town of Cocodrie as a category 2 cyclone.
THE mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, for his part noted that although the "Gustav" has impacted in the zone with less force that the "Katrina" three years ago, remains the risk of flooding and that some dikes revienten.
Nagin indicated that a few hours after arrival to land the eye of the hurricane, there had been no significant damages.
Referring to the impact of "Katrina" in 2005, Cyclone "Gustav" has followed a trajectory away from the southwest Mississippi Delta.
Television images showed flooded streets and roads in Louisiana, but it is estimated that until late at night may not confirm the extent of the damage.
Around 100,000 people, one third of the population of New Orleans, have remained in the city and refused to obey the evacuation order mandatory.
The cyclone "Gustav" is weakening under enters land and, according to the National Hurricane Center (CNH), headquartered in Miami, has moved to category 1, but with winds of 145 kilometers per hour.
Danger of tornadoes
The authorities believe that floods may occur and there is also the danger of tornadoes across the Gulf of Mexico.
The hurricane winds of over 140 kilometres per hour continue to plague southwestern Louisiana, as the cyclone moves away in the direction of Texas.
The flood control experts fear that the most damaged area of New Orleans is West Bank town of Jefferson, across the Mississippi River, where the protection system has not been completed and remains vulnerable despite intensive efforts in the embankments in the past three years.
The dykes and embankments are now higher, but the pressure that creates the accumulation of water and waves driven by winds could cause ruptures, the experts noted.
"Ike" warns
The ninth tropical depression of the current season of cyclones Atlanta was transformed into tropical storm "Ike", reported the National Hurricane Center.
"Ike" was formed midway of the African continent and the Lesser Antilles and is already set maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour.
"Hanna" will follow the steps to "Gustav"
Tropical storm "Hannah" on Monday soaked the Bahamas on a route similar to that of Hurricane Gustav, "while rescue crews in the Caribbean removed the rubble left by the deadly progress of his predecessor that now affects the coast in the Gulf Mexico.
"Hanna" cascaded in a westerly direction along the so-called "corridor of hurricanes" at a speed of 85 kilometers per hour. His course seems to point to the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of Florida, while other potential storms were forming in Atlanta.
The National Hurricane Center examinaotros four weather systems moving in a westerly direction from the coast of Africa, including one located in the middle of Atlanta that could become a tropical storm.
Help
From Brussels, the European Commission (EC) reported yesterday approved an aid of 2 million euros for victims of hurricane "Gustav" in its passage through the Caribbean countries of Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.
"The first reports on Haiti, where the hurricane first came, they speak of major damage and 8,000 displaced. We do not have yet the full picture of what happened in Jamaica, and we are also concerned about the situation in Cuba," said European responsible Louis Michel, said in a statement.
The aid of 2 million euros will go to projects to improve access to clean water, food, medicines and basic utensils in Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and Dominican Republic.
Cuba began slowly returning to normal on Monday after Hurricane which caused material damage to housing and infrastructure, but left no loss of life, although one NGO reported five missing fishermen.
In problems
The Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage said that the damage caused by "Gustav" in the electrical grid of Pinar del Rio, west of the island, forced to build a new power lines.
Latent threat
The local television channels showed toppled trees and electricity poles, as well as the accumulation of water in some streets of New Orleans. More than 40,000 homes and businesses in the city were left without electricity supply. Both the Louis Armstrong International Airport and the Port of New Orleans have been closed.
The biggest economic impact, focuses on facilities platforms for oil and natural gas, as well as refineries in the Gulf Coast.
