Solidarity is not long in coming and a contingent made up of 80 Ciego de Ávila citizens from the electricity sector that today went to Havana, destined for the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, affected by the passage of Hurricane Ian.

The group, which is self-reliant in terms of resources and vehicle fleet, is made up of linemen, drivers of two guard service cars, a basket car, two cranes, technical personnel, logistics personnel, the Provincial Cargo Office, operations specialists, project, mechanical and support.

Kaled Cruz Cobo, technical director of the Electric Company of Ciego de Ávila and one of those who lead the contingent, told the Cuban News Agency (ACN) that all the personnel have experience in compensating networks damaged by cyclones.

We, electricians, know the importance of restoring a service as vital as this as soon as possible, so we will be there, or where it is needed, as long as it is necessary, Cruz Cobo said.

On this occasion, personnel from the municipalities of Morón, Ciego de Ávila, Baraguá, Ciro Redondo, Bolivia and Chambas are mobilized.

According to reports, this Monday, the maximum gusts of wind recorded on the Punta del Este radar, on Isla de la Juventud, amounted to 111 kilometers per hour at 11:44 p.m.

Edgardo Soler, master in science and specialist in meteorology in Pinar del Río, told ACN that Argelia, La Victoria and El Colony (hotel of the Gran Caribe group) were the places where the gusts of wind were felt the strongest.

Until the year 2008, four major hurricanes affected Isla de la Juventud in September: Gilbert, on September 13, 1988, with category four, which caused penetration of the sea and intense rains.

Isidore is added, on September 19, 2001, of category two; Lili, also in that category on September 30th; and in 2008, Ike, which left considerable damage in its wake.

The center of Hurricane Ian left Cuban territory at 09:50 a.m. near Puerto Esperanza, in the municipality of Viñales, Pinar del Río.