He Forest fire of large proportions that for eleven days has been active in Pinares de Mayarí, Holguín, has devoured more than 3,600 hectares of forests and forced the evacuation of more than 100 people in the popular councils of Pinalito and 21 de Abril, according to the official diary Granma.
The evacuees live in the Mella municipality, threatened by the proximity of the fire, which could spread from the mountainous area of Pinares de Mayarí to that territory, from the adjoining Santiago de Cuba.
The vice president of the Defense Council in Mella, Germán Fajardo, had communicated that “the flames are not in Santiago de Cuba”, but considered that the situation created by the fire is “complex”, although work is being done to prevent its spread, according to appointment the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
He also indicated that the transfer of all people with respiratory ailments will continue due to the effects that the smoke could cause them. About a thousand people from Santiago had mobilized on Tuesday to fight the fire, according to ACN.
The journalist Emilio Rodríguez updated from his Facebook account that the fire already involves the areas of Pinares de Mayarí, Mella and San Luis. More than 3,600 hectares are damaged.
This forest fire originated as a consequence of the strong drought that affects the country, the speed of the winds, the dispersion of the sources and the irregularities of the terrain, according to reports from the Ranger Corps (CGB).
Personnel from the fire brigades and rangers, agroforestry companies, the Armed Forces and other forces such as radio amateurs, health professionals and the Red Cross are fighting the incident that has affected the habitat of valuable native flora and fauna species.
The critical period for forest fires on the island runs from January 1 to May 31, coinciding with the driest season.
For this year, according to official estimates, 320 to 445 forest fires are expected, which could damage 4,300 to 6,000 hectares in the period from January to next May. Only the current fire in Pinares de Mayarí comes close to this estimated figure.
Efe/OnCuba.
