Havana, Cuba.-The National Civil Defense of Cuba issued the Informative Note Number 1 on Hurricane Irma today, regarding the potential danger that this phenomenon represents for this Caribbean country.

According to information from the Cuban Institute of Meteorology Forecast Center, Hurricane Irma continues to intensify and maintain a course heading west in the next 12 to 24 hours at a rate of 22 kilometers per hour, said the text of the note.

The note adds that, considering the characteristics of the hurricane and the predicted trajectory, it was decided to establish the Informational Phase for 11 of the 15 provinces of the country starting at 3:00 pm local time on Tuesday.

At the moment, the administrative entities more to the west are excluded from the measure: Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana and Mayabeque, although these last two provinces must be kept in close contact with the information given by the Institute of Meteorology.

The General Staff of Civil Defense reminded the state organs and agencies, economic entities and social institutions of the Provinces in Information Phase that they must comply with the measures provided for in their respective disaster reduction plans with rationality.

It also directed the population to keep an eye on information from the Institute of Meteorology and Civil Defense, as well as comply with the measures indicated by the local authorities.