Severe Drought Hits Eastern Cuban Province despite Rains

Las Tunas, Cuba, April 22 (ACN) Current drought has affected this Eastern Cuban territory in such a manner that heavy rains registered in April here have not helped local reservoirs to increase water levels over 30 percent of their capacities.

Local municipalities to the South and North of the province show the worst hydraulic indicators, according to the Water Resources Office.

The highly limited water availability through the pipes here have forced authorities to delivery drinking water to local communities by cistern trucks, but this scenario is not new for the people in this territory because Las Tunas is the region with traditionally less rainfall in the country, some 1 thousand 38 millimeters annually.

Most of the 23 local reservoirs in the province are in difficult conditions to funnel water to the residential area or agriculture.

Some 82.6 millimeters of rainwater registered in April stand for 140 percent of the historic average up to date, a breath of fresh air for society and the economy. May, which brings the rainy season with it is only eight days away, which sparks some optimism about relieving the harsh situation.