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New Orleans inhabitants flee from Hurricane Gustav

Last Modified: 31 Aug 2008
By: John Sparks

Nearly the whole population of New Orleans are fleeing in a drive aimed at averting a repeat of 2005's Hurricane Katrina tragedy.

Some half a million people are streaming out of the city by car, train and plane.

The city's mayor has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew, warning looters they would go straight to jail.

Gustav struck western Cuba overnight as a category four hurricane, with winds of 140 miles an hour. But hitting land reduced its strength.

This morning it had slowed to a category three storm. But as it swirls over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it's likely to strengthen to category four again when it hits the Louisiana coastline, including New Orleans, at around 2pm local time tomorrow afternoon.