The storm earlier left 4 people dead during a rampage across the entire length of Cuba.

Around 74 people were killed when Ike’s torrential rainfall worsened already disastrous flooding in Haiti. Two people perished in neighboring Dominican Republic.

Galveston, parts of southern Houston and areas south of the city and near the Texas coast were under a mandatory evacuation order on Thursday.

Weather Underground director of Meteorology Jeff Masters pointed out that Ike's wind field was larger than that of Katrina.

This could lead to storm surges along the Texas coast up to 20 feet (6 metres) as the storm takes a track similar to the devastating 1900 Galveston hurricane, which killed 8,000 people.

Hurricane Ike: Track

Radar Loop: Weather Underground