The first images of Hurricane Oscar's impact in Baracoa show strong winds, heavy rains, and large swells in the Primada de Cuba.
Images and videos shared on social media reflect the force with which this cyclonic organism has affected the easternmost part of the island.
Oscar made landfall at 5:50 PM this Sunday in Baracoa, with winds of approximately 130 km/h, being a category 1 hurricane, reported the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the USA.
The NHC, in its seventh update on this phenomenon, indicated that the minimum central pressure of the cyclone is 986 mb (29.12 inches), thanks to previous observations made during a reconnaissance flight by the Air Force.
At 5:50 PM, Oscar's center was estimated at 20.3 degrees North latitude and 74.4 degrees West longitude, coordinates that placed it about 10 kilometers (5 miles) east-southeast of Baracoa, and about 80 km (50 miles) east of Guantánamo.
The arrival of Óscar comes at a critical time for the country, affected by a general blackout since last Friday. As a result, the necessary evacuation and prevention measures to deal with the weather event have been significantly limited.
Reports on social media indicate the danger of the hurricane in a community that has not had access to the necessary information to face the cyclone.
The Meteorology Institute on the island has issued a tropical cyclone warning indicating that wind speeds will increase at night, where they may reach speeds between 85 and 100 kilometers per hour, with higher gusts.
"The winds could reach hurricane strength with speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour in the provinces of Guantánamo and Holguín, in areas near the center of the hurricane," they add.
On the northeastern coast, strong swells will persist, especially along the northern coast of the provinces of Guantánamo and Holguín, extending overnight to the northern coast of Las Tunas. Coastal flooding, ranging from moderate to intense, will continue to affect the low-lying areas of this region, including the promenade of Baracoa.
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