HAVANA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Cuba is holding its annual military and civilian drills, named "Meteoro," this weekend to prepare the country to face possible natural disasters.
According to General Ramon Pardo, head of Cuba's Civil Defense, the drills aim to strengthen the country's capacity to deal with earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, as well as any other catastrophes, including epidemics.
These exercises involve different bodies of the National Defense Council, regional and municipal councils, defense zones, political and social organizations as well as military units and the interior ministry.
On Saturday, control groups at different levels checked how tasks had been undertaken in the last year to reduce risk ahead of any contingencies.
Authorities also analyzed probable impact models for the main disasters the Cuban archipelago is exposed, according to risk and vulnerability studies.
"The probability of Cuba being affected by a major hurricane this year is low, only 40 percent. But we must still be ready to face any type of natural disasters," said Raul Costa, director of the Civil Defense's natural and technological disaster reduction section.
Costa said that seven tropical hurricanes are expected to form over the Caribbean basin over the upcoming season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
Last year, the island's eastern province of Guantanamo was severely hit by Hurricane Matthew, causing economic losses for over 150 million U.S. dollars although no casualties were reported.
On Sunday, practical demonstration exercises will be held to reduce vulnerabilities in high-risk communities, schools, commercial centers and factories.
The priority includes sanitation, healthcare risks, trimming trees, cleaning and unclogging storm drains, waterways, as well as natural and urban drainage.
The "Meteoro" exercises have been held annually since 1986 and complement a biannual military drill for the defense of the nation, known as Bastion.
