Etecsa Updates Situation in Eastern Region

The eastern provinces of Cuba have reported disruptions to telecommunications services in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, according to the Cuban Telecommunications Company, Etecsa, in an updated statement from its official Facebook profile.

In Las Tunas, 25 percent of landline telephone service and 59 percent of radio base station sites were interrupted.

Holguín reported a loss of communication in the town of Birán, in the municipality of Cueto, due to a generator failure, in addition to 23 percent of landline service and 73 percent of radio base stations.

In Granma, cuts to the fiber optic network left the municipalities of Yara, Campechuela, Pilón, Niquero, Bartolomé Masó, and Media Luna without communication. In total, the province reported 49 percent of landlines and 88 percent of radio base stations out of service.

Santiago de Cuba reported interruptions in the municipalities of Segundo Frente, Tercer Frente, and Guamá, due to damage to the fiber optic infrastructure. There, 45 percent of landline service and 87 percent of radio base stations were affected.

In Guantánamo, the two fiber optic routes connecting the province were severed. An alternative radio link connection partially restored communications, although 45 percent of landline service and 85 percent of radio base stations remained affected.

The widespread lack of electrical power directly impacted the operation of a large portion of the technical hubs and radio base stations that support services in the eastern region.

Overflowing rivers and impassable roads hampered a complete assessment of the damage.

Etecsa crews have been dispatched to the eastern part of the country to support restoration efforts.