HAVANA, Sept 28 (NNN-ACN) — Hurricane Ian, category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, made landfall at 3:25 in the morning by La Coloma, located in the head municipality of Pinar del Río and in the southern portion of the province.
According to specialists of the Provincial Meteorological Center, at the moment of its entry, gusts of winds of 134 kilometers per hour were registered at the meteorological station of Pinar del Río, the highest up to this moment.
Previously, considerable gusts had been reported in San Juan y Martínez and Isabel Rubio, in both places with 102 kilometers per hour.
Rainfall has not been the most significant element of this event so far, while there are already fallen trees and damage to light roofs of houses in several municipalities, according to users on social networks.
At 5 AM Tuesday morning, Ian was 10 kilometers south of the city of Pinar del Rio, with maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour with higher gusts. The exact position is 22.3 North, 83.7 West. Ian is moving north at a speed of 19 kilometers per hour. The minimum central pressure has dropped to 952 hectopascals.
Over 27,300 citizens have been evacuated in eastern Pinar del Rio province as a measure to preserve human lives as hurricane Ian approaches that Cuban territory on Monday evening.
Most evacuees sought shelter at places of their relatives and friends, while local government has prepared 55 facilities for evacuation.
Niurka Rodriguez, Deputy governor in the locality of Vueltabajo– renowned for its high quality tobacco leaves—said during a briefing of the provincial defense council that all necessary services have been guaranteed, including medical, food, drinking water and transportation to safe places. — NNN-ACN
