Photo: Islavisión.

Havana, Sep 29(RHC) Lázaro Guerra, technical director of the Unión Eléctrica -UNE  said that more than 1,470,000 customers were affected by Hurricane Ian's damage to Cuba's electric power system.

The official explained in the television program Mesa Redonda, that the greatest damages occurred in the western provinces of Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud.

Pinar del Río and Artemisa were the most affected by the force of the winds and rains and among other damages, all the electric distribution circuits were out of service and there were also severe damages in other neighboring provinces.

He recalled that as a result of the hurricane, there was a zero generation event which caused a general blackout throughout the country because three lines linking the western, central, and eastern regions of the country were tripped.

He added that work began immediately on the gradual recovery of the national electric power system, which he described as slow and precise, to avoid further breakdowns.

The official pointed out that given this situation, brigades of specialists from all over the country were mobilized to support the most affected areas, to gradually restore the damaged circuits, and gradually restore the power supply.

Although he did not mention a precise date for the total restoration of service, Guerra pointed out that they are working intensely so that it will be as soon as possible, taking into account the seriousness of the damages.

The day before, Ian made landfall in Cuba through the province of Pinar del Río, the westernmost point of the country, with category three on the Saffir-Simpson scale.  It took six hours to leave the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida, United States, but first it caused enormous damage to housing and agriculture (Source: Prensa Latina).