Wind Gusts Over 211 MPH Recorded in Paso Real de San Diego as Hurricane Slams Island

Thankfully, it looks like Cuba’s evacuation prevented the kind of massive casualties one would usually expect in a storm of this magnitude:

Strong gusts of wind over 340-km/hour were felt in the Paso Real de San Diego zone after the hurricane hard hit the Los Palacios municipality; although there is also considerable damage in other areas like Candelaria, San Cristobal and Bahia Honda. The hurricane’s strong winds are also being felt in the province capital city and other localities.

The Provincial Defense Council insists on the protection of the population in order to avoid human losses. More than 147,900 people were evacuated in Pinar del Rio, most of them went to the homes of neighbours and relatives as is usual among Cubans who always show their solidarity in the face of hurricanes.

And Gustav could strengthen before hitting the Gulf Coast…