[NYTr] Eastern, Central Cuba Hit by Tropical Storm Noel

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Eastern, Central Cuba Hit by Tropical Storm Noel

Havana, Oct 30 (acn) Due to heavy and intense rains caused by the 
tropical storm Noel, the Cuban government has issued the informative 
phase warning at 16:00 hours this Tuesday for the central provinces of 
Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Cienfuegos and Villa Clara.

This is the first level warning of a potential danger which alerts the 
civil defence and other authorities to be on the alert and monitor 
known points at risk. It also warns the public at large to maintain 
awareness of a possible situation and tune in to radio and TV bulletins.

Cuba has a well defined and practiced procedure, acknowledged 
internationally, which comes into play when faced with natural 
phenomena. These are tracked continuously. The level of alert and 
appropriate action, evacuations from places at risk etc. are adjusted 
according to the danger.

The informative phase was already established for the eastern provinces 
of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguin, Las Tunas and 
Camaguey, while Noel lingered Monday over the flood-prone mountains of 
Haiti.

Noel has already caused flooding and mudslides that killed at least 20 
people elsewhere in the Caribbean and according to forecasts it is 
drawing closer to Florida.

The storm is going westwards at 12 kilometers per hour approximately. 
At 18:00 hours the centre was located at 20.9 N and 78.0 W, near Santa 
Cruz del Sur, on the south coast of the province of Camagüey.

Once it hit land, Noel has become weaker and the current maximum 
sustained winds are 65 kilometres per hour. According to forecasts, 
Noel should describe a northwest path for the next 24 to 48 hours with 
possibilities of hitting the north coast of central Cuba on Wednesday 
afternoon.

Rains will continue to affect eastern Cuba for the next two days.