In connection with the growing activity of Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean, Russian Foreign Ministry structures in the states of this region have issued warnings about the need for Russians in the Dominican Republic to take precautionary measures. The Republic of Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, the State of Florida, and the US Virgin Islands.
Russian tourists vacationing in these countries are advised to refrain from staying in the coastal zone, especially from swimming in the sea, not to leave the buildings, not to go near windows and strictly follow the instructions of local emergency services, tour operators, and hotel administrations.
You should have a sufficient supply of water, food, necessary medications, and keep documents and a charged mobile phone ready.
Those who find themselves in the immediate hurricane zone are advised, if possible, to stay in rooms located in capital buildings, while moving away from windows and taking a safe place near walls, in the hallway, near built-in closets, in bathrooms, toilets, storage rooms, in strong closets, under tables, put out fires, turn off electricity, close gas taps. During a hurricane, you should stay as far as possible from light structures, buildings, bridges, overpasses, power lines, masts, trees, rivers, lakes and industrial facilities outside. To protect yourself from flying debris and glass fragments, it is recommended to use plywood sheets, cardboard and plastic boxes, boards and other improvised means. You should not enter damaged buildings, as they may collapse with the next gusts of wind.
A number of hotels in the Dominican Republic where Russian tourists are staying are taking measures to possibly evacuate vacationers to safe areas if there is information about a real threat to their life and health. At the same time, according to the National Association of Hotels and Tourism of the Dominican Republic, the hotels in this country are prepared to meet the elements, food and drinking water reserves have been created, protection zones have been set up, external structures have been cleaned and strengthened, and there is no need for mass evacuations.
A state of emergency has been declared in the eastern regions of Cuba (the provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguin, Las Tunas, Camagüey, Ciego de Avila and Villa Clara). Residents and tourists are being evacuated in the coastal areas of the eastern provinces.
In the United States, a number of hotels also offer citizens alternative accommodation options.
Air traffic between Russia and the Caribbean countries is carried out taking into account all factors of passenger air transportation safety, including the current weather situation. A number of airlines have cancelled flights to the Dominican Republic, flights to Miami (USA, Florida) have been delayed. Flights from Miami are expected to resume tomorrow. Tourists in the disaster area have been provided with food and accommodation.
As a precaution, sea and land excursions in tourist areas of the Caribbean states located in the area of Hurricane Irma may be suspended.
Tourists who have booked tours and excursions to the Caribbean countries located in the area of hurricane Irma are advised to:
— check with representatives of air carriers and shipping companies to see if the dates of flights/cruises have been cancelled/postponed
- check with the selected tour operator about any changes in plans
— check with the consular departments of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at your destination about current weather conditions and forecasts for the tour (trip) route.
Adverse weather conditions in the Caribbean region are forecast to continue until September 9, 2017.
Rostourism is in contact with the Situation and Crisis Center of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry’s structures in the Caribbean countries, Rosaviatsia, as well as the representative office of the Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic in Moscow and is monitoring the development of the situation.
The Federal Tourism Agency urges tour operators selling tours to Caribbean countries to inform their clients about adverse weather conditions in the region and recommended precautions, and Russian tourists to carefully observe these measures.
Emergency phone numbers:
Branch of the Russian Embassy in Venezuela in Punta Cana:
+1-809-481-45-86
Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Venezuela in Caracas:
+58-412-910-10-91
Embassy of Russia in Venezuela:
+58-212-993-43-95
Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in the USA
+1-202-939-8907
+ 1-202-939-8913
Crisis headquarters EmbassiesA Russian Federation in the Republic of Cuba:
+53-7-204-26-86 (city)
+53-7-204-10-85 (city)
+53-7-204-10-74 (city)
+53-5-263-02-77 (mobile)
Source: trn-news.ru
