Posted on Sun, Sep. 07, 2008
By FRANCES ROBLES
frobles@MiamiHerald.com
Cuba began a frantic effort to evacuate eastern provinces Sunday, as
powerful Hurricane Ike barreled toward Guantánamo as a Category 4 storm,
packing 135 mph winds.
Ike is expected to reach the eastern tip of the island by Monday.
In anticipation, thousands of boarding students were sent home Saturday
afternoon and at dawn Sunday and the government began evacuating people
who live near dams and along rivers, particularly Cuba's largest -- the
Cauto River.
Officials worried about dams, which by Sunday were already at 80 percent
capacity.
Granma, the government's official newspaper, reported intense evacuation
were underway of Cauto Cristo, Río Cauto and Jiguaní, which are on the
hurricane's path and suffered tremendous flooding during Hurricane Noel
last year.
In Camagüey province alone, authorities said they would evacuate 224,000
people. Authorities urged people who live in homes with tile roofs to
leave and head for sturdier shelter. People near the shore, near dams,
in flood zones are near rivers also had to be relocated.
Buses began picking up tourists Sunday morning.
And in Las Tunas, at least 209 refugee shelters opened.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/675756.html
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