Cuba in recovery from damages after intense rains

Havana, Jun 4 (Prensa Latina) Cuba today continues assessment and recovery work after the damages caused by intense rains that mainly hit its westernmost provinces.

From his Twitter profile, President Miguel Díaz-Canel reported he visited headquarters of the National Civil Defense General Staff, in Havana, again this morning, where he verified measures implemented to face the consequences of the weather event.

In his message, the head of state asked the population to be careful to prevent more loss of life, as two persons were reported dead in this capital and one in the Pinar del Rio province.

He also referred that social networks attended in Havana neighborhoods to deal with floods.

Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Isla de la Juventud and Havana, especially the former, suffered the consequences of heavy rains associated to a low-pressure system, which also affected central and eastern Cuban areas.

The rains that hit the Cuban archipelago on Friday left extensive areas flooded, mainly in low-lying areas.

The highest rainfall report was recorded at the meteorological station in Punta del Este, Isla de la Juventud with 155 millimeters, followed by Isabel Rubio, Pinar del Río with 135 millimeters.

As a result of the climate event, two deaths were reported in the capital, and one in Pinar del Río, and various material damages, mainly to homes and the electrical system.

The day before, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel ordered the evacuation of citizens from areas at risk of flooding and landslides.

He also urged to quickly recover all damages, and carry out cleaning and unblocking of the drainage systems, after the start on June 1 of a cyclonic season that is forecast to be intense.