Strong winds cause sea water to flood Havana
2010-03-04 10:06:44 GMT2010-03-04 18:06:44 (Beijing Time)
Xinhua English
A young man watches waves in front of Havana's seafront boulevard "El Malecon" after sea water entered and flooded parts of Havana due to high tides and big waves March 3, 2010. (AFP Photo)
Waves are seen in front of Cuban capital Havana's seafront boulevard "El Malecon" and sea water entered and flooded parts of Havana due to high tides and big waves March 3, 2010. (Joaquin Hernandez)
Waves are seen in front of Cuban capital Havana's seafront boulevard "El Malecon" and sea water entered and flooded parts of Havana due to high tides and big waves March 3, 2010. (Joaquin Hernandez)
Waves are seen in front of Cuban capital Havana's seafront boulevard "El Malecon" and sea water entered and flooded parts of Havana due to high tides and big waves March 3, 2010. (Joaquin Hernandez)
A car drives through flooded street in Havana, Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Heavy winds sent waves from the Caribbean Sea crashing over Havana's storied seawall Wednesday, flooding streets with foamy saltwater. (AFP Photo)
HAVANA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Strong winds accompanying a cold front caused waves of up to three meters to break through Havana's seawall, flooding the capital's streets since early Wednesday.
The flood caused no casualties nor major damage. The government said more than 450 people have been evacuated to safe places.
Castellis Sanchez, a resident of the flooded area, told Xinhua he has not seen such a scene since Hurricane Wilma hit in 2005.
Police officers, firefighters and troops have been busy helping to evacuate victims and diverting traffic away from the water.
The Cuban Institute of Meteorology said the penetration of sea water would subside gradually at night.
