The passage of Hurricane Oscar on Sunday and Monday left a devastating impact on the Villa Imías campground in the province of Guantánamo.
The images shared by the pro-government journalist Miguel Reyes on Facebook show the drastic transformation that this facility underwent, surrounded by masonry cabins and its natural environment filled with lush vegetation.
Before the hurricane: The cabins appear to be in good condition, with pastel-colored structures lined up on solid ground.
After the hurricane: The same cabins are severely damaged, partially submerged in water, with some leaning or collapsed. The surrounding vegetation appears to be affected, and it is evident that the force of the hurricane caused erosion and displacement of the structures towards the water.
"Terribly unfortunate! And the hardest part must have been for those who, without communication, faced an unexpected event. How many lives and damages could have been avoided if those who were informed had taken action? Not even Flora caused as much destruction, not because of the event itself, but due to the measures taken," was a comment on the post.
"Incredible, those of us who have been there, so many summer stays, the theater crusade camps for over 30 years on February 14. It will never happen again; everything has been destroyed," lamented another person.
The passage of Hurricane Oscar through Guantánamo resulted in a tragic toll and sparked criticism over the lack of proper preparation and information.
The cyclone, which struck as a Category 1 on October 20, 2024, resulted in the deaths of six individuals in the municipality of San Antonio del Sur and one in Imías, according to government sources, including a five-year-old child and several elderly adults.
In addition, the severe flooding and structural damage left many families cut off and without access to basic services.
The Cuban government's response has been criticized for a lack of timely information, compounded by the blackouts that have been affecting the country since before the hurricane.
During his visit to Guantánamo, leader Miguel Díaz-Canel faced criticism from residents, who expressed that they felt abandoned during the emergency.
The recovery in the affected areas will be challenging, as the hurricane struck amid an energy and economic crisis. Armed forces and emergency brigades have been deployed to support rescue and reconstruction efforts, but the situation remains critical in several locations in one of the poorest provinces of the island.
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