The ever closer arrival of the powerful Hurricane Melissa To the east of Cuba it is necessary to take precautions and measures to minimize the damage of the meteor.
In this sense, along with the preparations underway in each of the eastern provinces of the island, this weekend there was information about the suspension of national trains that were supposed to circulate during these days and also about the evacuation by the United States of Guantanamo naval base.
The canceled trains are those corresponding to the routes between Havana and the provinces of Guantánamo and Santiago de Cuba, which were to leave today and tomorrow, and also their return to the capital, initially scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
In this regard, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Cuban Minister of Transportation, he explained on his networks that the railway schedule “is subject to the evolution of the meteorological situation” and that “the service will resume only when it is certified that circulation is completely safe.”
Presumably, this suspension will also affect other routes, such as those that link Havana with the provinces of Granma and Holguín, as well as local trains that circulate in the territories that are under threat from the hurricane, which is expected to impact Cuba this Tuesday.
The latter, the minister points out, continued until this Saturday “circulating subject to the decisions made by the Defense Councils in the territories that are affected by the meteorological event.”
In his publication, Rodríguez Dávila does not refer to national buses and air routes, both Cuban and international, although it is expected that those originating or destined for eastern Cuba will also be suspended as the impact of Melissa approaches.
Hurricane Melissa intensifies rapidly and will hit eastern Cuba with great force
Neither ball nor football
Although it was expected in this situation, the Cuban sports authorities confirmed the suspension of the National Baseball Series matches and the Clausura Football Tournament.
In the case of the ball, they were suspended a priori the games planned for October 28, 29 and 30, which must be recovered during the agreed subseries from December 16 to 21, as reported the National Commission of that sport.
Regarding the All-Star Game, which must be held next weekend in Holguín, “the final decision will be announced after the evaluations following the passage of Hurricane Melissa,” the entity said.
Regarding the Clausura Football Tournament, whose first phase takes place in Santiago de Cuba, the authorities of the discipline have decided to stop its implementation after two dates.
A note from the National Commission states that the decision seeks to preserve the physical integrity of the athletes, coaching staff and support staff.
“At this time, the most important thing is that the football community and the population in general can dedicate themselves completely to preparations to face this meteorological event,” the entity points out.
“Once the conditions allow it and the competent authorities determine that the necessary security exists, the date for the resumption of the championship will be announced, with the modifications that may arise from the inconvenience,” add the football authorities.
The Naval Base
The United States Government decided to evacuate a large part of its personnel from the Guantánamo Naval Base, due to the imminent scourge of Hurricane Melissa.
Base authorities reported that all people not essential to the operation and missions of the enclave would leave this weekend.
In their notification they asked these people to prepare their belongings and to have clothing and medicine worth two weeks. “Each individual will be allowed one 40-pound bag and one carry-on item,” they noted.
Likewise, also announced the closure of facilities and outdoor spaces within the base, including the marina, sports fields and swimming pools, as well as the cancellation of events scheduled for the coming days.
Hurricane Melissa intensified rapidly in recent hours until reaching category 4. At 11:00 AM this Sunday it maintained maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h with higher gusts and was moving west at only 6 km/h.
It is expected that in the next few hours it will remain on this course and slowly move south of Jamaica and then turn towards the and the northeast in the coming days. So, although its intensity fluctuates, it should impact eastern Cuba as a very intense hurricane between Tuesday and Wednesday.
