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The Provincial Meteorological Center of Camagüey explained the technical reasons that led to the declaration of the cyclone alarm phase due to the threat posed by Hurricane Melissa, a highly intense system that has everyone in central and eastern Cuba on edge.
Melissa is a powerful tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 280 km/h and gusts exceeding 300 km/h, making it an extremely dangerous phenomenon. Although its exact landfall point cannot be precisely defined yet, specialists warn that interaction with a trough in the coming hours could lead to an unpredictable shift in its trajectory.
Camagüey could experience tropical storm winds, even if the center of the hurricane makes landfall in the province of Granma, due to its wide radius of influence, estimated at 315 kilometers. This is compounded by heavy rains, possible coastal flooding in the northern area, and the risk of storm surges.
In this scenario, the Civil Defense of Cuba activated all mechanisms to protect the population, including preventive evacuations in vulnerable areas. In the municipality of Vertientes, more than 800 people, including 140 elderly individuals, were moved to safe shelters, with the support of the Red Cross, the Revolutionary National Police, and the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.
Local authorities reported that the reservoirs in the area are prepared to handle large volumes of water, and that relief valves have been opened in small dams such as La Esperanza to prevent overflow.
The Municipal Defense Council emphasized the importance of timely communication with the population, relying on local broadcasters and radio amateurs to keep the people of Camagüey informed.
They reiterated that the priority is to safeguard human life in the face of the powerful hurricane Melissa.
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