MIAMI, United States. – In your first briefing note After the start of the intense rains that have fundamentally affected the eastern region of the Island, the National Civil Defense General Staff asked to comply with its instructions in a disciplined manner, as it is expected that the rainfall will continue for the next few hours.
“According to information from the Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology, in the next few hours the rains will persist in the national territory, mainly in the center and east of the country,” indicates the Civil Defense note.
“Taking into account that the levels of risk in the territories will increase, due to the saturation of the soils, the impact caused by the floods and the persistence of rainfall in the coming hours, the population is directed to comply with the indications in a disciplined manner. given by local authorities, increase compliance with the rules of conduct and not commit imprudence”, requested the government entity.
Finally, he assured that both the Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) and the National Civil Defense Staff maintain surveillance of the hydrometeorological situation in the center and east of the Island.
The heavy rains of the last hours have caused unprecedented flooding in the province of Granma, which have led to the evacuation of thousands of people. In addition, they have caused “significant damage” to infrastructure and homes, according to reports in the official Cuban press.
The town of La Marina, in the municipality of Media Luna, had to be completely evacuated due to flooding caused by the rise of a river in the area, reported on Facebook the provincial channel of Granma. “The river has occupied a level extremely higher than previous days, since 1986 I had not seen anything similar, we have shocking images,” reported that medium.
In accordance with Terry Gutiérrez’s report to the Cuban News Agency (ACN)Until this Saturday morning, more than 7,000 people from Granma had been protected, most of them in the homes of relatives and friends, while 211 remained in state institutions.
On the other hand, more than 10,000 homes with some type of condition are reported, including 65 total collapses and 214 partial collapses.
The effects on homes, state institutions, electricity service and agriculture are among the main damages that have been quantified in the municipality of Jiguaní in Granma, one of the hardest hit by the heavy rains.
In that territory, the unprecedented swelling of the Jiguaní River has caused serious damage in the urban area of the town, leaving a large amount of rubble and collapsing the walls of some buildings.
The critical hydrometeorological situation in the territory caused the death of a 60-year-old mana native of Jiguaní, this Friday, according to Cuban authorities.
In addition, the rains associated with the tropical wave that affects the eastern region of the Island have left considerable damage in most of the municipalities of the province of Granma, with significant accumulations of rainfall in several places.
The intense rains and consequent flooding have also affected other territories in the center-east of the country, as the province of Camagüeyone of the most affected in addition to Granma.