The dangerous hurricane "Ian" has reached Cuba. With wind speeds of up to 205 kilometers per hour, the hurricane hit land near the town of La Coloma in the west of the Caribbean island early Tuesday, according to the US Hurricane Center (NHC). Meteorologists had previously warned of life-threatening storm surges, hurricanes, flash floods and landslides in Cuba.

Around 50,000 people in coastal areas have been brought to safety, Cuban state media reported. The tobacco region Pinar del Río, around 150 kilometers west of the capital Havana, was hardest hit. Shortly before arrival, the NHC in Miami had classified "Ian" as a Category 3 of 5 hurricane. Meteorologists expect the Cuban storm to head for the Florida coast in the US, even reaching magnitude 4.