Official Media Reports Six Dead as Heavy Rains Cause Flooding in Central and East Cuba
The Granma government mouthpiece revealed that the death toll from heavy rains and flooding in east and central Cuba has risen to six as thousands of evacuees begin returning home after widespread damage to property. Heavy rains that started last Thursday have weakened and water levels were subsiding. Four people died in the eastern regions of Granma, Las Tunas, and Santiago de Cuba, while two passed away in central Camaguey.
Widespread Damage to Property and Crops
The heavy rains have caused severe damage to bridges, roads, and the sanitation system, as well as hundreds of homes. Thousands of hectares of crops, including sugar cane, were destroyed in the island nation battling its worst economic crisis in decades. President Miguel Diaz-Canel called the storm an “atypical event” and mentioned that it directly related to climate change. According to him, flooding in some places reached heights not seen in 30 years, with some residents stating that they had never experienced levels this high before.
Months of Severe Drought
Months of severe drought in Cuba’s east caused the floods. Nevertheless, as the rains subside, hopes are high that the country will soon bounce back from this disaster.
