Forecasters warned of heavy rains and possible flash floods and mudslides as Hurricane Ivan took aim Sunday on the Cayman Islands.

The powerful hurricane uprooted trees, knocked down power lines and produced heavy rains and flooding that burst canal banks.

A Cayman government information officer described the damage as
"severe."

The airport runway was flooded by several feet of water, Radio
Cayman went off the air and trees three stories high were wrenched
from their roots.

The hurricane had grown to a rare Category Five storm, but
lost some of its strength Sunday as it approached the wealthy island
enclave.

Meanwhile officials were "cautiously optimistic" Sunday that Hurricane Ivan will spare the Florida Keys its full fury.

A tropical storm watch has been issued for the lower
third of the 120-mile island chain.

The watch extends from below Marathon through Key West and the
Dry Tortugas. It means tropical storm conditions are possible
within 36 hours.

Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for tourists and
79,000 residents of the Keys.

Streets, bars, hotels and shops were mostly empty.

The storm initially was projected to hit the Keys directly, but
it unexpectedly wobbled and lurched westward Saturday.

About 600,000 people along Florida’s east coast are still without power in the wake of Hurricane Frances, which struck on Sept. 5.

A hurricane warning was in effect Sunday for Cuba from Pinar Del Rio to Ciego De Avila, including the Isle of Youth and a hurricane watch was in effect for the rest of the island nation.

Sunday afternoon, the center of Hurricane Ivan was near 19.2N-82.1W, about 60 miles west of Grand Cayman.

Ivan was moving toward the west-northwest at about 10 miles an hour.

Forecasters expected the storm to turn toward the northwest within 12 to 24 hours.

Ivan’s center is expected to pass near or over the western end of Cuba Monday afternoon or evening.

Maximum sustained winds were near 150 miles an hour with higher gusts.