Hurricane Oscar has significantly impacted agricultural sectors in Guantánamo, notably affecting banana and tomato plantations. Reports from the state-run newspaper Venceremos and Radio Baracoa highlight the extensive damage. Specifically, banana plantations have seen damage in approximately 50% of their crops, with this figure escalating to 70-80% in the municipalities of Maisí and Baracoa, where numerous trees have been reported as fallen.
Moreover, the hurricane has resulted in the destruction of 200 hectares of tomatoes in the Valle de Caujerí, located in San Antonio del Sur. In response to the devastation, official sources indicate plans to deploy two brigades, each comprising 50 chainsaws, to the most severely affected municipalities, aiming to facilitate road opening and cleanup efforts. Additionally, there are plans to organize reinforcement teams dedicated to salvaging any recoverable food supplies.
The progression of Hurricane Oscar through Guantánamo was marked by its slow movement to the west-southwest at a speed of 8 km/h, transitioning into a tropical storm. Despite the reduction in wind strength, the storm's lingering presence continues to inflict heavy rains over the region.
Source: CiberCuba