Cuba's former president Fidel Castro, one of the world's longest-serving and most iconic leaders, has died aged 90. Fidel Castro was seen as a ruthless despot by some and hailed as a revolutionary hero by others.

Castro's brother and the nation's President of several years, Raul, announced his death Friday on Cuban TV.

Every Cuban around the world will forever remember where they were the moment they heard the news that Fidel Castro died.

In Havana, people were shocked and stunned as news spread slowly. For many, they were only hearing of the former leader’s passing as they awoke on Saturday morning.

A woman, who didn’t give her name, started to cry when told the news -- concerned about what happens next in Cuba.

One official in Havana told CNN: 'It’s like a death in the family.'

Shortly after dawn broke Saturday morning, preparations were already under way for the funeral.

It’s expected there will be large crowds lining the streets when his ashes travel the reverse route he took across the island after seizing power in 1959.

One official in Havana told CNN: 'It’s like a death in the family.'

Shortly after dawn broke Saturday morning, preparations were already under way for the funeral.

It’s expected there will be large crowds lining the streets when his ashes travel the reverse route he took across the island after seizing power in 1959.

One official in Havana told CNN: 'It’s like a death in the family.'

Shortly after dawn broke Saturday morning, preparations were already under way for the funeral.

It’s expected there will be large crowds lining the streets when his ashes travel the reverse route he took across the island after seizing power in 1959.

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was a Cuban politician, dictator, and revolutionary who governed the Republic of Cuba as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008