Massive disruptions in telephone and mobile networks in Guantánamo after Hurricane Oscar

The Guantanamo municipalities of Baracoa, Maisí, Imías, and San Antonio del Sur are experiencing massive interruptions in landline and mobile networks due to the impacts of Hurricane Oscar, which has since been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, reported the Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA).

Until 2:00 p.m. on this Tuesday, a total of 2,207 lines remained interrupted in the city of Baracoa, representing 31% of the total, according to a statement from ETECSA.

In addition, 12 radio base sites are affected, which has led to a 79% unavailability in the mobile network of the municipality.

In Maisí, landline service was restored this Tuesday, although eight mobile phone sites remain affected, representing an 89% unavailability in the network.

According to the information, the only functioning radio base is the one located in La Máquina.

The municipality of Imías presents a more unfavorable situation, as it has no communication with the municipal capital, and 1,572 fixed lines and seven radio base sites are affected.

The note also reports that the only operational base station is in Alto de Cotilla, located on La Farola road – which was affected by landslides – 15 km from Imías.

Finally, in San Antonio del Sur, around 1,200 landlines are reported as interrupted, which represents 70% of the total in the locality.

In this municipality, six radio base sites are affected, resulting in a 75% unavailability of the mobile network, and only the radio bases Guaibanó and San Antonio are functioning.

"Resources are being transferred to the province at this time," indicated ETECSA's note.

Preliminarily, the Cuban government reported that there are more than a thousand homes damaged in several municipalities of the province of Guantánamo, the main territory affected by Oscar.

In addition, the weather phenomenon destroyed coffee, banana, and tomato plantations, reported the official newspaper Venceremos.

However, the most tragic aspect of Oscar's passage through eastern Cuba has been the loss of at least seven lives, a figure that could increase due to the flooding that continues to affect the province.