Hurricane Melissa is heading towards Cuba. Cuban authorities are evacuating 500,000 people from vulnerable regions.

According to The Guardian, authorities in Cuba have announced the evacuation of approximately 500,000 people from regions exposed to strong winds and flooding, amid the approach of storm Melissa. Forecasts indicate that the storm will head towards Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city in the country.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel has warned that significant damage is expected. He urged the population to comply with evacuation orders and to cooperate with authorities in civil protection measures. Storm Melissa has already generated torrential rains and gusts of wind in other Caribbean islands, and meteorologists warn that its intensity could increase as it approaches the shores of Cuba.