It really has happened. Fidel Castro, whose name has ruled and struck fear into the people of Cuba since 1958, has finally died at age 90.

Castro was the world’s third longest-serving head of state, after Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and the King of Thailand.

He temporarily ceded power to his younger brother Raul after undergoing surgery in 2006.

Castro permanently stepped down from office in 2008 when Raul took over permanently.

Raul Castro may have “taken over,” but it was Fidel who was continually held up as the figurative head of state. And while President Obama went all over the place with Raul Castro during his March visit to Cuba this year, even the Obama administration realized that Fidel was a stick of political dynamite that Obama should not go near.

And with the news of Fidel’s death, the Cuban community in the United States is overwhelmed with emotion.

Emotion and celebration.

Starting to be a real crowd outside Versailles in Little Havana, cars stopping to honk and cheer "Cuba Libre!" (And "el viejo murió!") pic.twitter.com/pzBvC4fdNV

— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) November 26, 2016

Flags are coming out now "Libertad! Libertad!" pic.twitter.com/FwlubQLVaK

— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) November 26, 2016

My sweet friend, born in Cuba, has been waiting for this day. #fidel MM pic.twitter.com/LSSajXAhKa

— Melissa Melendez (@asmMelendez) November 26, 2016