Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said Monday that the government is in constant communication with the western territories threatened by tropical storm Idalia, which is expected to become a hurricane in the coming hours.

Havana, August 28 (RHC) -- Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said Monday that the government is in constant communication with the western territories threatened by tropical storm Idalia, which is expected to become a hurricane in the coming hours.

Marrero wrote on the social network X, formerly Twitter: "We are in constant communication with the territories. Our people must remain attentive to official information and comply with the indications of the Civil Defense and local authorities".

Renowned Cuban meteorologist José Rubiera, explained on national television's midday newscast that meteorological conditions exist for tropical storm Idalia to become a hurricane when its maximum winds exceed 119 kilometers per hour.

At this hour, its winds reach 100 kilometers per hour, and it is estimated that in the next 12 to 24 hours, Idalia will continue to gain in organization and intensity, explained Rubiera.

At the stroke of 10:00 local time, Cuba's National Civil Defense (DC) established today the cyclonic alert phase for Pinar del Río, Artemisa, and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud in the face of tropical storm Idalia.

The DC's Informative Note number 2 stated that the provinces of Mayabeque and Havana remain in the information phase.

The CD oriented the provinces of the central region to remain attentive to the evolution of this cyclonic organism and to increase the hydrometeorological surveillance and adopt the necessary measures according to the particular situation of their territories.

The institutes of Meteorology and Hydraulic Resources, together with the National General Staff of the Civil Defense are keeping watch over this cyclonic organism, said the CD.