Forest fires have been raging across parts of Cuba since January, with an estimated 2,000 hectares of land burned and around 80 wildfires reported across the country. The worst affected areas have been the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Holguín.

As a result of the fires, more than 70 people have been evacuated from Pinalito village in the Mella Municipality of Santiago de Cuba Province. The authorities have been working tirelessly to contain the fires, but the situation remains volatile.

According to the Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS), the fire risk is expected to remain high to extreme in the affected eastern provinces and central-western provinces on 1-2 March. This has led to concerns about the potential for further wildfires to break out in these areas.

The Cuban government has expressed concern about the impact of the fires on the environment, as well as the potential risks to human life and property. Efforts are ongoing to tackle the fires and to prevent them from spreading further, but the situation remains challenging.

The authorities are urging residents in affected areas to exercise caution and to follow all safety guidelines to reduce the risk of further fires. The government has also called on the international community for assistance in dealing with this ongoing crisis.