Eastern Cuba on cyclone alert as tropical storm Erika approaches

Cuba declared a "cyclone alert" in four eastern provinces Friday due to the proximity of tropical storm "Erika," which was lashing the Caribbean and is set to pass near Cuban shores Saturday morning.

"Since 3 p.m., the General Staff of Civil Defense ordered a cyclone alert declared in the eastern provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Holguin due to tropical storm Erika," an official press release said.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Las Tunas, Camaguey and Ciego de Avila have activated an "information phase," which indicates they are preparing for Erika's potential arrival.

The governments of these states have been ordered to evaluate the possible impact of heavy rains and landslides, especially in cities and mountainous areas, while taking measures to protect people.

According to Cuba's Institute of Meteorology, Erika is maintaining maximum sustained winds of 85 km per hour.

Cuban experts forecast that in the next 12 to 24 hours, Erika will maintain its direction and speed, crossing over the Dominican Republic on Friday and crossing the eastern half of Cuba, or close to it, on Saturday morning. However, there is hope that it may weaken to a depression over the Dominican Republic.

Cuba is far from being the only country on an emergency footing due to Erika. By Friday afternoon, the storm had killed at least 12 people on the island of Dominica, although that number may rise.

Erika was lashing the islands of Turks and Caicos as well as Puerto Rico on Friday, with the Bahamas set to be hit on Saturday.

Although it will likely have weakened before it makes landfall in the United States, Florida Governor Rick Scott said the storm remained a "severe threat" and declared a state of emergency.