Hurricane Irene may flood eastern Cuba

Hurricane Irene may cause flooding in the coastal areas of eastern Cuba on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Cuban Institute of Meteorology forecasts said. The eye of the hurricane on Tuesday at midnight (04:00 GMT) was located 130 kilometers to the east of Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic). Wind gusts in the area reached 160 kph (100 mph). Irene strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane late Monday. "Small and medium flooded coastal areas" are possible on Tuesday in the eastern part of the island and the north coast of the province of Guantanamo. Irene is forecast to grow into a Category 3 hurricane later on Tuesday as it moves over the warm waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas.