In cyclonic alarm westernmost provinces of Cuba

Due to the possibility of heavy rains in Cuba, as a result of Tropical Storm Idalia, the reservoirs in Matanzas province are ready for heavy rains and monitored on Monday.

According to the www.radio26.cu, the dams in Matanzas are approximately 58 percent full, a situation that allows accumulating rainfalls caused by Tropical Storm Idalia as it goes through western Cuba.

The technical director of the provincial delegation of Hydraulic Resources, Javier Romero, commented that dams are being monitored every 12 hours with the objective of making measures in case of heavy rains.

Currently there is only one dam in Matanzas that is open to lower the filling level in accordance with hydrological prevention, and a review of the possible impact of rainfalls in flood areas is being done according to the information provided by the Cuban Institute of Meteorology, he said.

Romero added that they are working together with institutions associated to Grupo Azucarero Azcuba and local municipal bodies to monitor all 48 micro-dams, and hydraulic experts are taking actions to update possible solutions in areas prone to flooding such as the communities of Carlos Rojas, Jagüey Grande, Camilo 1, Camilo 2 and Pedroso.

The official pointed out that brigades from Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado and from Servicios Comunales in the provincial capital are working on the cleaning of the sewage system known as Ojo de Agua in the city of Matanzas, due to its importance for the fluvial system in the territory.

According to the latest report issued by the Cuban Civil Defense, in view of the possible trajectory of Tropical Storm Idalia, the provinces of Pinar del Río, Artemisa and the Isla de la Juventud special municipality are on hurricane warning, while Havana and Mayabeque are in the information phase, and the central provinces are monitoring the meteorological phenomenon.