Related videos:
The Government of Canada updated its travel advisory for Cuba on October 24 to warn its citizens about the risks associated with the imminent passage of Hurricane Melissa, a hurricane that is expected to continue gaining strength in the coming days and impact the island around October 29.
The new recommendation, published on the official page of Global Affairs Canada, advises travelers to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the combination of food, medicine, and fuel shortages, along with extreme weather conditions that could severely impact essential services on the island.
The Canadian government warns that the hurricane could bring heavy rains, strong winds, flash flooding, and landslides, directly impacting transportation, power distribution, water supply, telecommunications, and healthcare. "If you are in Cuba, exercise caution, monitor weather reports, and follow the instructions of local authorities," the official notice states.
The alert includes a list of tourist areas and popular cays, such as Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo, and Cayo Santa María, where it is advised to take extra precautions due to the worsening weather conditions.
A vulnerable country before the cyclone
Beyond the passage of Melissa, Ottawa recalls that Cuba is facing a “chronic and severe” shortage of basic goods. The lack of fuel has paralyzed public transportation and limited the use of generators during power outages, which can last more than 24 hours.
That situation leaves many travelers without means of transportation or communication, while access to the internet and mobile phone service remains inconsistent.
The warning also mentions the insecurity associated with private transportation, petty theft, and fraud targeting tourists, as well as the frequent scheduled blackouts intended to ease the pressure on the national electrical grid.
Melissa is approaching Cuba
The hurricane Melissa is keeping Cuban authorities on alert. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the system is moving through the central Caribbean and could intensify in the next 48 hours.
The Cuban Civil Defense has declared the Cyclonic Alert Phase for several eastern provinces and ordered preventive evacuations in low-lying and coastal areas.
In eastern areas, persistent rain, power outages, and local flooding have been reported, while residents are trying to stock up on water and food amid a growing shortage.
A call for caution
With this update, Canada joins other countries that have revised their travel recommendations for Cuba during the hurricane season. The combination of a supply crisis and a significant weather phenomenon makes a stay on the island a logistical and health challenge.
For Cubans both inside and outside the country, the warning reinforces the feeling of vulnerability of an island that faces not only a meteorological hurricane but also an economic and social one that strikes its population daily.
Filed under: