AREQUIPA, Peru – At least 264,000 homes remain without electricity in Artemisa and Pinar del Río after the step this wednesday of Hurricane Helene through the western end of Cuba.
The fact worsens the already serious energy situation in the country, where long blackouts last up to 9 and 14 hours due to lack of fuel, poor condition of thermoelectric plants and generation deficit.
The Artemisa Electric Company reported this Thursday that, after having restored electrical service to 70% of customers during the early hours of Wednesday, a setback was experienced that has left approximately 160,000 inhabitants of that territory no electricity.
Iscander Morales Suárez, general director of the entity, indicated that although the most significant fault in circuit 1,270 was repaired at 5:00 AM, the installation of the transformer has been delayed due to the intense gusts of wind.
To accelerate the repair work, the regime has had to mobilize brigades from Matanzas and Sancti Spíritus, which join the 35 teams of electricians in the territory in surveying and certifying lines.
“Due to the strong gusts of wind, it is impossible to work on the power lines to avoid accidents. However, there is the necessary equipment to resume the service as soon as weather conditions allow it,” says a report from the state media. Cubadebate.
For their part, more than 84,000 customers in Pinar del Río are without electricity service due to the impact of Helene. In this regard, linemen from Havana and Mayabeque were sent to the territory to help with the recovery, while others from Cienfuegos must arrive soon.
During its passage through the Island, the meteorological phenomenon intensified and the force of its winds impacted coastal communities in Pinar del Río, where it caused destruction. In the town of Cortés, south of the Sandino municipality, several homes suffered total collapses and one lost its roof, according to confirmed the regime’s official press on social networks.
Pinar del Río was also hit by storm surge and strong gusts of wind that reached 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts.
The Cuyaguateje River left its channel and reached seven meters, which forced the residents of the Popular Council of Isabel Rubio to be moved to the homes of acquaintances and relatives. Eight families had to be evacuated in total.
Likewise, heavy rain from Helene caused light flooding in some areas, mainly on the south coast. At Cabo de San Antonio, waves of three to five meters were recorded.
