Cuba today strengthens the recovery work that started yesterday, after the definitive northern departure of the now Hurricane Idalia, which hit the western region of Cuba.
Havana, Cuba.- The most significant damages were reported in the electric service, communications, and agriculture, particularly in Pinar del Río, the westernmost province, although Artemisa and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud were also affected, according to the preliminary assessment.
Manuel Marrero urged the ministers to visit as soon as possible each scenario beaten up by the meteorological event, in line with the guidelines given by President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Meanwhile, brigades of linemen and other specialists from territorial demarcations not affected by Idalia, are leaving for the western region, and resources are being mobilized to support the recovery effort.
In a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Díaz-Canel positively valued the preventive actions taken and directed to carry out a deep, accurate, and agile evaluation of the ravages caused to the territory by the now hurricane Idalia.
He emphasized the need to reestablish as soon as possible the electric service in the areas flooded by the heavy rains and to do the same to revert everything that was affected in terms of communications, as well as the importance of paying special attention to crops.
REPAIRING ELECTRIC GRID IS TOP PRIORITY IN PINAR DEL RÍO – CDP
Pinar del Río.- Recovering from the effects of Hurricane Idalia -which recently hit western Cuba- is focused Wednesday fundamentally on repairing the electric grid as much as its service, and assisting the population immediately, Pinar del Río authorities assessed.
A television broadcast stated that specialists are presently working 24/7 to repair the grid to provide over 169,000 clients, from the provincial capital to Consolación del Sur and La Palma municipalities, with power service.
In a meeting of the Provincial Defense Council (CDP), presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Perdomo, it was decided to deliver basic staples to the population, for which transportation alternatives are being applied.
The CDP further revealed that the rainfall associated with the meteorological event contributed to an increase in the filling of reservoirs to 69%.
In addition, the CDP informed that 24 schools were partially or totally damaged.
CUBAN PROVINCE PRIORITIZES WATER QUALITY AFTER HURRICANE IDALIA
Attention to the quality of the water consumed by people in Pinar del Río is a priority among the hygienic-sanitary measures taken after Hurricane Idalia hit the region.
According to the director of the Provincial Center of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology, Andrés Villar, treating drinking water with 0.1 percent hypochlorite is of vital importance under these circumstances.
In statements to the local El Guerrillero newspaper, the official explained that this product, which is on sale in pharmacies, is administered at a rate of three to four drops per liter of water, and after half an hour, the water is ready for consumption.
The specialist also recommended that the population use Disinclor and Aquatabs tablets, used for water disinfection, purification, and treatment. These substances are available in all areas where water is not chlorinated.
He also explained that state sanitary inspectors are working on the certification of tanker trucks, which require adequate chlorination for consumption by the population.
Villar pointed out that his institution called on food processing centers in the province to prepare only the food that will be consumed on the day as a preventive measure against possible food poisoning. (PL)
