- Title: Residents of Guanatanamo evacuate as Hurricane Matthew churns through Caribbean
- Date: 3rd October 2016
- Summary: GUANTANAMO, CUBA (OCTOBER 3, 2016) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF GUANTANAMO BAY AREA TOWARDS U.S. MILITARY BASE ON SITE AREA OF MILITARY BASE GENERAL VIEW OF RAIN CLOUD STREET SIGN MOVING WITH THE WIND CLOUDY, RAINY AND WINDY WEATHER CONDITIONS EVACUATING RESIDENTS ON BUS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUANTANAMO RESIDENT, YAIDEL MAZORRA, SAYING: "Now they're transporting us to a safe area where there is greater protection and better security for the elderly and for children, to protect everyone." RESIDENTS ARRIVING AT EVACUATION SITE AT GUANTANAMO UNIVERSITY RESIDENTS AT UNIVERSITY DORM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUANTANAMO RESIDENT, DEGLIS VERDECIA, SAYING: "I feel safe here, it is where (the government) Party told us to come to. They collected those people living in low-lying areas, those who could get end up in the river, if the hurricane takes knocks through their homes. This is why they took us here." VARIOUS OF EVACUATED RESIDENT EATING AT SHELTER WOMAN READING AT SHELTER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT FOR THE EVACUATION COMMISSION AT GUANTANAMO UNIVERSITY, ALEXIS SOSIAS IGLESIAS, SAYING: "We are receiving people who are living in areas prone to flooding. With the heavy rains once the hurricane hits there will be flooding, covering homes and that is why the people have been transported to high-lying areas." WOMAN AND CHILD AT SHELTER WORKERS AT SHELTER
- Embargoed: 18th October 2016 23:18
- Keywords: Hurricane Matthew evacuations Cuba Guantanamo
- Location: GUANTANAMO, CUBA
- City: GUANTANAMO, CUBA
- Country: Cuba
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Wind/Hurricane/Typhoons/Tornadoes
- Reuters ID: LVA00152GDGEF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Residents of Cuba's Guantanamo region evacuated their homes on Monday (October 03) as Hurricane Matthew intensified in the Caribbean, bringing 140-mile-per-hour (220 kph) winds and torrential rain that could wreak havoc in Caribbean nations.
The eye of Matthew, a violent Category 4 storm, is expected to close in on Cuba on Tuesday (October 04) night, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre said. In a prelude to the hurricane ahead, dark clouds, strong winds and heavy rains have already blasted coastal areas of Cuba such as Guantanamo.
Authorities rounded up residents in low-lying areas of Guantanamo for evacuation to a shelter set up at the local university.
"Now they're transporting us to a safe area where there is greater protection and better security for the elderly and for children, to protect everyone," said resident, Yaidel Mazorra.
On Sunday (October 02) Cuban President Raul Castro visited the Cuban military perimeter of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo as non-essential U.S. personnel were being evacuated in preparation for Matthew.
Cuba is no stranger to hurricanes and Guantanamo locals told Reuters they are happy with the precautionary measures taken by the government.
"I feel safe here, it is where (the government) Party told us to come to. They collected those people living in low-lying areas, those who could get end up in the river, if the hurricane takes knocks through their homes. This is why they took us here," said local, Deglis Verdecia.
Matthew is one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Caribbean in years and authorities in Cuba are taking no chances.
"We are receiving people who are living in areas prone to flooding. With the heavy rains once the hurricane hits there will be flooding, covering homes and that is why the people have been transported to high-lying areas," said the president for the Evacuation Commission at Guantanamo University, Alexis Sosias Iglesias.
Matthew is expected to near southwestern Haiti and Jamaica Monday (October 03) night before moving onto Cuba. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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