During Saturday night and Sunday early hours, Hurricane Melissa rapidly intensified to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, in anticipation of which the Hurricane Alert phase was established from Camagüey to Guantánamo, effective at 3:00 p.m. Saturday.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- In Las Tunas, the Provincial Defense Council (CDP) continues to adopt the necessary measures to counteract the effects of the meteorological event. The municipalities in southern Las Tunas are most likely to be hit by the hurricane.

Heavy rains may begin Monday afternoon, which is why the CDP indicated the population, livestock, and state resources protection, as well as continuing pruning, solid waste collection, and cleaning and sanitizing the protection centers in the coming days.

The president of this body in Las Tunas, Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez, emphasized the importance of checking the structure of the management centers and the organization of publicity, taking into account the hurricanes that hit last year: "maintain communication with the population through the press and loudspeakers.

Also, "protect cultural heritage, wind and photovoltaic parks, and secure health centers, taking into account the diseases currently circulating."

The CDP members, divided into working subgroups, toured each of the towns. In Manatí, they visited the food processing center, where sweets were prepared. They also visited one of the centers set up for the protection of people.

In Puerto Padre, intensive work is held on solid waste collection in the town of Delicias, in conjunction with sugar agribusiness workers. The harvest of crops such as sweet potatoes, cassava, and plantains continues. One of the population's concerns is access to charcoal; facilities for the sale of this product will be created in each municipality.

The authorities' call is intended to reinforce the population's risk perception. "People should understand that we are facing a meteorological event. Anyone who can take shelter in the homes of neighbors, family, and friends should go to these spaces," said Lorenzo Rodríguez.

Regarding the school year, the president of the CDP clarified that classes are suspended until the recovery phase is declared. In addition, the sale of alcoholic beverages has been suspended in all establishments.