Tropical Storm Laura lashes eastern tip of Cuba

Tropical Storm Laura lashed the eastern tip of Cuba on Sunday, sending waves crashing over the sea wall in the town of Baracoa, flooding streets and homes.

The storm began sweeping over the eastern provinces on Sunday evening, bringing high seas, heavy rains and wind gusts up to 120 kilometers an hour, (74 miles per hour), according to local officials.

Homes and buildings were damaged, forcing several hundred residents in the seaside town of Baracoa into shelters overnight.

Roofs and other storm debris littered the streets of several towns in the east, as the storm continued its southern path over the length of the island,

The storm is expected to continue its course along the southern coast of the island overnight, sending winds and rains the length of the country as it churns into the Gulf of Mexico on a path to the US.