Havana, Cuba.-The most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history has passed this morning over Barbuda, headed to the Lesser Antilles, and could directly or indirectly affect the eastern region of Cuba in the next 48 to 72 hours.

According to the latest warning from the Cuban Meteorological Institute, Irma is Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 295 kph, whose central pressure dropped 914 hPa.

Irma is moving to the northwest west, increasing its translation speed to 26 kph, a path that will locate it next morning close to the Saint Martin Island and near or over Virgin Islands in the afternoon.

Cuba´s National Staff for Civil Defense (ENDC) has issued yesterday the Informative Note Number-1 regarding the potential danger that Irma represents, and also declared the Information Phase for 11 of 15 provinces from 3:00 p.m. local time.

The ENDC has reminded state bodies, agencies, economic and social institutions of eastern territories to comply with the measures issued in their respective disaster reduction plans with rationality.