Cuba''s western region, chiefly Pinar del Rio province, must keep a watchful eye on the course of Hurricane Paula, the Meteorology Institute warned on Wednesday.

The Category 2 hurricane is accompanied by sustained maximum winds of 160 kilometers (about 99.4 miles) per hour, and is located at approximately 160 kilometers southwest of Cape San Antonio. Paula is moving north at 15 kilometers (about 9.3 miles) per hour. Hurricane Paula is likely to change its course more to the northwest, and decrease in speed while heading for the Strait of Yucatan and the westernmost Cuban region of Pinar del Rio, according to the national weather forecast.

As Paula keeps moving, rains could intensify in that region in the next 12-24 hours, and include the special municipality of the Isle of Youth.

In view of the predicted weather conditions, the General Staff of the Civil Defense yesterday decided to implement the informative phase in Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth.

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