Sancti Spíritus, May 28 (RHC) The President of the Civil Defense Council in the Cuban province of Sancti Spíritus, José Ramón Monteagudo Ruiz, called on the population to work hard towards recovering from damages caused by the severe rains affecting the central and eastern Cuban regions over the past several days.

Monteagudo Ruiz, a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, toured various municipalities to assess the damage, primarily the road systems and crop plantations.

According to official reports, the heavy rains damaged some 40 kilometres of road, 14 construction works and 10 bridges, blocking traffic in several areas, as well as access to some population settlements.

The heavy rainfall flooded rice plantations, which were ready to be harvested at the Sur del Jíbaro Agro-industrial Complex. Efforts focus on draining the fields to harvest the crop.

Authorities informed that in order to alleviate high water levels on the Zaza dam, water is being released through two of the dam’s sluiceways.

They also informed that residents of communities located downstream from the dam and families who lost their homes remain evacuated.

The heavy rainfall in central Cuba more than tripled the historical average for the month of May and, according to data provided by the Provincial Hydraulic Resources Office, it surpassed all levels registered over the last 80 years.

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