Cuba Recovers and Remains Alert as a Result of Matthew

Havana, Oct 6 (Prensa Latina) The eastern region of Cuban is making progress today in the recovery phase after the devastation of powerful Hurricane Matthew, while the country''s northern coast is on alert to heavy rainfall, winds and a possible sea surge.

According to reports from national television, damage is still to be quantified and communication restored in the areas affected by the hurricane, mainly in the municipalities of Baracoa, Imías and Maisi in Guantanamo, the province most-hit by the hurricane.

Authorities from the Civil Defense National Staff explained that the damage in the province includes total and partial collapses of buildings, blocked roads due to landslides, fallen trees and downed power lines.

Mathew hit Baracoa hard for 10 hours, damaging 90 percent of homes and blocking parts of La Farola viaduct, the main road to the city.

The effects of the cyclonic system on the northern coast of the country's central and eastern region continue today. Matthew is moving northwest at a speed of 19 mph and was located 200 kilometers from the municipality Nuevitas in Camaguey province at 18:00 local time yesterday.

According to the forecasts of the Institute of Meteorology, heavy seas in the northern coast would continue in the following hours from Camagüey to Guantanamo, with waves as high as three to five meters and with light to moderate coastal flooding.

Despite the rains, the total capacity of dams on Cuban territory are at 53.9 percent, executives of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources said on the daily television program Roundtable .

The eye of Hurricane Matthew hit Cuba near Punta Caleta, Guantanamo, at six o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. It was in this Caribbean territory approximately five hours before crossing to Bahia de Mata near midnight.

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, praised the preparations and efforts of the authorities, the press and Cuban civil organizations in face of the ravages of the category four hurricane.