Now in the recovery phase, and with the participation of Walter Baluja García, Minister of Higher Education, and Marydé Fernández López, Deputy Head of the Ideological Department of the Cuban Communist Party’s Central Committee, the Provincial Defense Council met on Thursday evening to assess the progress of the efforts to restore the province's vitality, with an emphasis on electricity, telephone, drinking water pumping, and transportation services.

Las Tunas, Cuba.– Anisley Santiesteban Velázquez, technical director of the Las Tunas Electric Company, pointed out that despite Hurricane Melissa, the province never lost its connection to the National Electric System (SEN), which reaches the Tunas 2 substation via the line that interconnects with the province of Camagüey.

The manager explained that, of the 87 primary distribution circuits, service had been restored to 28, representing 44.68 percent of customers.

“We have worked diligently. We reached the El Rincón pumping station, the provincial hospitals, and restored service to a group of circuits in the city,” he stated.

“In the municipality of Las Tunas, the areas of Becerra, TK 12 (near Sosa district), and TK 18, which extends to Gonzalo Quesada Street, remain without power due to damage to the lines.”

Santiesteban Velázquez emphasized that the municipalities of Jobabo, Manatí, Puerto Padre, and Jesús Menéndez have not yet received service, as their power lines are undergoing a certification process. Work will continue in the coming days to restore electricity to these areas. He further explained that distributed generation across the so-called islands was not used as there was no need, because the province remained connected to the National Electric System (SEN) via 110 kV lines.

During the exchange, it was learned that those evacuated due to the weather event have returned to their homes, except for those in the municipality of Majibacoa, who will return when conditions allow. It was also reported that transportation throughout the province will be restored by early Friday morning.

Health authorities announced that, starting tomorrow, they will reinforce epidemiological surveillance in various health areas of the provincial capital to combat arboviruses. They emphasized that hypochlorite has been distributed to all pharmacies, thus families can protect the quality of their drinking water.

At the meeting, it was announced that the country has allocated 1,300 tons of steel for the manufacture of roofs for affected families in eastern Cuba, which will be processed in plants in our province.

Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez, president of the Provincial Defense Council, reiterated that the municipalities of Puerto Padre and Jesús Menéndez suffered the most damage from Hurricane Melissa and assured that the majority of construction efforts would be directed toward them.

He also urged representatives of the various subgroups to act promptly and conduct the most accurate assessment possible of the damage, with a view to a more effective recovery.