Cubans Prepared For Hurricane Matthew's Fury

GUANTANAMO, Cuba, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 05th Oct, 2016 ) : Hurricane Matthew began pounding Cuba late Tuesday, but residents of the communist island were largely calm, thanks to their high level of preparation and experience weathering previous storms.

Deserted roads and unlit street lamps felt anything but normal, however, shortly before the storm hit land late Tuesday afternoon. Government and civil protection agencies placed on high alert in the island nation's four eastern regions had mobilized to coordinate more than 300,000 voluntary evacuations and prepare shops, shelters and food distribution centers with supplies.

Roberto Gates was one of the few residents in the city of Guantanamo -- home to 201,000 -- who dared venture outside as a drizzle cooled what would have been a sweltering October day. "I have food for today and tomorrow, and then we'll see," the 63-year old said on his way to buy rum.

Cuba's internationally recognized prevention and alert system is being tested again after the island was seriously battered by Hurricane Sandy four years ago. Eleven people died, some inside collapsed houses. Local media and many officials have spent the past 48 hours tracking the hurricane's progress.