When the Algarvian family Ramalho landed, on vacation, in Cuba, on February 2, they already knew what they could face. “We decided to come because it was the time we all had to spend a few days with the family. We knew there could be a risk of a hurricane, but we weren't expecting to live this experience», explained Diogo. The family is in Varadero, one of the main tourist resorts, where the “Irma” has not yet passed, but the truth is that there are already moments of “anxiety and panic”.
7000 kilometers from his home in Loulé, Diogo Ramalho told the Sul Informação how is the environment in Varadero. “I still can't say much, because we don't really feel the impact. This Friday and Saturday they have already warned that it will be critical, but the feeling of tourists is a bit of anxiety and panic. We are not used to hurricanes,” he explained.
The “Irma”, category 4, has already caused the death of at least 14 people, with the gusts reaching 300 kilometers per hour. This hurricane passed through the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos Islands, where it left a trail of destruction. In Cuba, the “alarm phase” has already been declared, both in the east and in the central part of the country. Varadero is located further north.
According to RTP, “the “alarm” phase is the third of the four stages decreed in Cuba, in case of cyclonic events, and is activated 24 hours before the arrival of the meteorological phenomenon.
“Cuban Civil Defense is appealing to the population to stay informed about the evolution of the hurricane and “disciplinedly comply with the measures indicated by the local authorities”, adds RTP.
In Varadero, Diogo Ramalho and his family are not alone. «The hotels here are full of people and there are many Portuguese. We have seen people changing flights, wanting to leave the hotel early and leave… We learned that some were removed from some areas and moved to safer ones», he explained.
On the contrary, the feeling of the inhabitants of Cuba is, according to this Algarve, one of normality. “We've been talking to locals and they say it's normal and “it's just going to be a lot of rain and wind”», he says.
And how has the prevention been? «A little while ago, at our hotel, we received a sheet under the door saying that the hotel bathrooms are the safest place at the most critical time. We won't be able to leave the hotel. The activities were all cancelled,” explains Diogo Ramalho, who, before being in Varadero, spent a few days in Havana.
In addition, they are "putting wooden boards on the windows and doors, because the trees can be uprooted," he added.
The return trip was already scheduled for this Saturday night, but "in principle it will be cancelled". “We don't know if we'll be back on Sunday, Monday or later… What we do know is that the hotel will take responsibility and we won't pay anything more,” he said.
From Portugal, Diogo has received messages of strength, at a difficult time ahead. «It's one thing to see in the movies, another is to live and feel everything in front of us. When the hurricane passes, we will all be apprehensive and hoping that everything goes well», he concluded.
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