Related videos:
The National Civil Defense General Staff established the Alert Phase for the provinces of Camagüey, Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo starting at 3:00 PM this Saturday, due to the advance and intensification of Tropical Storm Melissa.
According to the official statement issued, Melissa has shown better organization and an increase in its intensity over the past few hours.
In the short term, the organism will gradually tilt its trajectory towards the northwest and west, moving slowly through the waters south of Jamaica, while continuing to gain organization and intensity, with expectations of reaching hurricane status today.
The decision to activate the Alert Phase in the eastern region and part of the central area of the country is accompanied by the declaration of Informative Phase for Ciego de Ávila and Sancti Spíritus, as a precautionary measure in preparation for a situation that is being closely monitored by the Civil Defense, the Meteorological Institute, and the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources.
The authorities urged the public to stay informed through national media and official social media profiles, and to diligently follow the directives of local governments and the Civil Defense itself.
The report emphasizes that the monitoring of Melissa's progression will be ongoing and that any updates regarding its path and intensity will be communicated promptly through official channels, aiming to protect the population and reduce risks in light of the possible onset of hurricane-related conditions in the coming hours.
The tropical storm Melissa turned into a hurricane on the afternoon of this Saturday and is expected to continue intensifying.
"Hurricane Warning Melissa 17A: Melissa has become a hurricane and is expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane by the end of the weekend," reported the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
This Friday, Melissa left a trail of flooding, landslides, and property damage in several provinces of the Dominican Republic.
The images show streets turned into rivers in areas of Herrera and San Cristóbal, with vehicles partially submerged and families trying to seek refuge in higher ground.
Filed under: