Photo: @DiazCanelB

Havana, February 21 (RHC)-- We are constantly monitoring the situation, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Monday, referring to the relentless combat offered by the country's Fire Brigade and Forest Ranger forces against a fire in Pinares de Mayarí, in the eastern province of Holguín.

Through the social network Twitter, the president commented that the area is affected by an intense drought, like almost the entire nation.

"Forces of the #Cuba Fire Brigade and Forest Rangers are relentlessly fighting a fire in Pinares de Mayarí, in Holguín, an area affected like almost the entire nation by an intense drought."

Díaz-Canel affirmed that the local residents have been evacuated and are safe from the smoke and flames.

Comrades from various sectors, among them the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), are putting up a strong fight against the incident, he added in a second message.

"The local residents have taken refuge from the smoke and flames. Comrades from various sectors, among them the Revolutionary Armed Forces, are giving a strong battle against this incident. We are constantly monitoring the situation.

Detected in the afternoon of January 26, the fire was caused by the impact of the intense drought during the last five months and the abundance of organic plant material, which favored the advance of the flames, affecting more than 1,000 hectares of forest.