Yamilé Ramos Cordero, the First Secretary of the Communist Party in the province of Pinar del Río, reported that the main damages in the area are concentrated in the electrical infrastructure and agriculture, the latter still unquantified.
In the case of the Isle of Youth, although the meteorological phenomenon helped improve reservoir volumes, Helene affected key sectors such as agriculture, tobacco, and the electrical service, which also suffered damages in Artemisa.
Widespread Power Outages in Pinar del Río
In Pinar del Río alone, the damages to the electrical supply are significant, with around 70,000 customers without service. An article on Cubadebate highlighted the major impacts in western provinces after Helene's onslaught, despite the hurricane not making landfall in Cuba.
Interestingly, the official media did not provide figures on structural collapses or housing damages, which are crucial in such meteorological events. The electrical sector reported malfunctions in the line supplying the Sandino municipality, affecting the water supply in the area. Efforts are being made to restore service in Guane, though the town of Cortés is unlikely to receive power any time soon.
Efforts to Restore Services
Power has been restored in places like Minas, Santa Lucía, and Pons, but there are still 438 interruptions in the province, including 144 in Pinar del Río. Seven workgroups from Mayabeque, Havana, and Cienfuegos are expected to assist in recovery efforts.
The water supply is also affected, with issues in the circuit powering the city's wells. Consolación del Sur faces difficulties with pumping equipment, and work is ongoing in Minas de Matahambre, particularly at the La Yuquilla station. Medically, surgical brigades remain active in every community to handle emergencies. However, there are reports of leaks in the cesarean rooms at the Abel Santamaría Hospital.
Artemisa's Struggle with Power Supply
In Artemisa, more than 160,000 of the 200,000 customers of the provincial Electric Company are experiencing service disruptions following Helene's passage. Iscander Morales Suárez, the provincial director, stated that the most significant damage is in the 1,270 circuit of the main city, requiring a transformer replacement at the 110 Kv substation. The transformer is being transported from Nueva Paz in Mayabeque and will be assembled and powered by qualified personnel at the Mariel thermoelectric plant, with a solution expected by Thursday noon.
Thirty-five workgroups are tirelessly fixing primary line failures and inspecting others to restore service, particularly in seven of the 11 municipalities that were completely without power as of 6:00 p.m. Wednesday. Four hospitals in Artemisa are operating with generators, and other services like water supply to the population are ongoing.
Isle of Youth's Agricultural Damage
While Helene improved reservoir volumes in the Isle of Youth, it significantly impacted key sectors like agriculture and tobacco. Ten of the 28 rain gauges registered over 100 millimeters of precipitation, with the Malpaís II reservoir recording the highest at 146.5 mm in 24 hours. The tobacco sector suffered the most, with approximately 25 hectares of export-quality tobacco seeds damaged, delaying the planting season scheduled to begin on October 10. Banana plantations also sustained damage.
The electrical service was disrupted for 3,697 customers, representing 12% of the total in the special municipality. Ignacio Luis Moya Álvarez, director of the Dispatch Base Business Unit at the electrical company, stated that five brigades are working to restore service as soon as possible. Authorities have urged people to avoid activities like fishing and announced the temporary suspension of maritime transportation.
As Helene moves away from Cuba towards Florida, where it is expected to hit Thursday night, the hurricane's "feeding bands" continue to cross over Cuba, causing heavy rain in various western localities. There are also reports of somewhat strong winds in some areas.