Gustav felt like "the blast wave from a bomb" - winds reached 212mph in Cuba

Officials measured gusts of 212 mph in the western town of Paso Real del San Diego — a new national record for maximum wind speed in a country often hit by major hurricanes, said Miguel Angel Hernandez of the Cuban Institute of Meteorology.

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com Gustav hit the Isla de la Juventud south of the Cuban mainland with screaming 140 mph winds that toppled telephone poles and fruit trees, shattered windows and leveled some homes. Like a bomb's 'blast wave' A Cuban television reporter on the Isla de la Juventud said the storm had felt like "the blast wave from a bomb." "Buildings without windows, without doors," he said. "Few trees remain standing."   Gustav turns New Orleans into ghost town Cuba digs out after Gustav's record winds NBC Field Notes from the Gulf Coast Newsweek: Q&A with levee director Rising from Ruin: Three years after Katrina Clicked: How Gustov's playing out on the Web Gulf oil platforms are shut down New Orleans confident cops won't bolt Retailers stock up to help in aftermath Pets evacuated from New Orleans this times Louisiana sports teams flee Gustav's path FirstPerson: Your storm images, video | Share