Electricity at 99% in Santiago de Cuba

HAVANA TIMES — The eastern city of Santiago de Cuba this week has 99 percent of its electric supply restored, while recovery crews removed 4 million cubic meters of debris and rubble throughout the province, reports Granma newspaper.

Some 2,000 electric and telecommunications employees from around the country have been working on the restoration of electric service and hope to finish repairing telephone lines in Santiago by the end of the month.

Cuba’s second largest city was pummeled by Hurricane Sandy on October 25.

According to figures released by the newspaper, some 104,000 acres of forested areas suffered significant damage; therefore the decision was made to use the fallen trees, especially conifers, for timber.