Eastern Cuba still in alarm for floods

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 22 (ACN) Although Hurricane Oscar is already far from the island, the province of Guantanamo is still in a state of cyclonic alarm due to the floods caused by the weather event, whereas the surrounding region returned to normality and recovery efforts are under way in the affected areas.

According to Maj. César Eduardo Cross Licea, second in command of Operations at the Civil Defense Command Post (CDCP), some 4,865 people are protected in evacuation centers and 443 others are staying with relatives, friends and neighbors. In addition, 51 homes collapsed and more than 2,000 lost either the whole roof or part of it.

The National Defense Council is in permanent contact with the affected provinces as the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the Ministry of the Interior, and the Cuban Red Cross guarantee access to the areas devastated by the hurricane.

The Ministry of Domestic Trade, together with the CDCP and United Nations agencies are delivering food and other supplies to the victims, whereas the FAR has rescued 493 people from flooded areas.

Maj. Cross Licea stressed that epidemiological surveillance and sanitation protocols have been strengthened to avoid the proliferation of diseases and urged the population to stay informed as the power grid comes back into service and to abide by the regulations issued for possible flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.