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Erika Paralyzes Eastern Caribbean Islands
Saint John's, Aug 28 (Prensa Latina) Several eastern Caribbean islands interrupted public activities today and are on alert due to downpours and heavy seas the tropical storm Erika will cause while crossing the area.
The approach of Erika has forced the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, British Virgin Islands, and the United States to suspend the workday in the state and private sector, and activate emergency plans.
Those territories also suspended the maritime and land traffic, opened shelters, and only health personnel, fire departments, police stations and other security forces to support emergency operations, will remain in service.
They urged citizens to avoid going out unnecessarily to the streets as the storm continues, adopted speed restrictions on public roads, canceled many flights, and the movement of land and sea public transportation.
They also urged the population to take appropriate precautions to prevent human and material losses, because the situation could be complicated in the coming days.
Erika further strengthened in the last two hours, is moving west at 26 mph, and is located 140 kilometers from Guadalupe.
Projections point to a turn in its west-northwest trajectory and during the weekend, it could become a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson intensity scale before reaching Bahamas.
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