August 31, 2008 (Sunday)
- Hurricane Gustav:
- New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin orders the mandatory evacuation of the city ahead of Gustav. (NYT)
- President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney cancel visits to the 2008 Republican National Convention due to Gustav. (Los Angeles Times)
- Heavy rains in central Japan cause flooding in Okazaki city forcing evacuation of thousands of people. (CNN)
- Journalist Magomed Yevloyev, owner of the non-government news agency Ingushetiya.ru, is shot dead in police custody in Ingushetia. (BBC) (The Australian) (AP)
- The death toll of the 2008 Panzhihua earthquake rises to 32, with 467 others injured. More than 250,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed. (BBC)