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A journalist from the station CMKC Radio Revolución, in Santiago de Cuba, was seriously injured when his home collapsed in the Altamira neighborhood during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
In his message published on , Romero recounted that he was assisted by neighbors while battling shock, the loss of normal breathing rhythm, and bleeding from facial injuries, symptoms that put his life at risk as he tried to help his daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law, who were also in the house at the time of the collapse.
"Under observation, but alive, I can now speak, write with difficulty, and continue fighting against the demons. The pains are many, but I am alive," wrote the reporter, highlighting the seriousness of the injuries and the physical impact he endured during the tragedy.
The journalist expressed gratitude for the effort of those who assisted him, including the on-call medical team that treated him.
His case is just one among hundreds of families who have lost everything in Santiago de Cuba.
In the Altamira neighborhood, the situation remains critical: many homes are still flooded, and residents are struggling to recover what little they have left.
According to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, the affected families include young children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, trapped in low-lying areas that were occupied following the collapse of the housing infrastructure in the city.
"Since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, these families have never received a dignified solution. Neither materials, nor housing, nor land... only promises and an endless wait. Thirteen years later, the story repeats itself: the rain ravages and the government looks the other way," declared Mayeta Labrada.
The cyclone Melissa caused widespread damage in Santiago de Cuba, from Cayo Granma to Contramaestre.
In Cayo Granma, many homes were reduced to rubble, with soaked mattresses, collapsed walls, and lost belongings.
In the Chicharrones neighborhood, the residents showed how fallen trees, twisted zinc sheets, and destroyed furniture were the only evidence of their homes.
Contramaestre was left underwater and covered in mud after several rivers overflowed, while in Guamá, Melissa made landfall with winds of around 200 km/h, tearing roofs off and blocking roads with tons of debris.
The tragedy in Altamira and other areas of eastern Cuba highlights the ongoing crisis in the housing sector, which has been plagued by unresolved issues for decades.
Hundreds of victims from previous hurricanes had still not been able to recover, and now they are facing new losses.
While the government insists on a triumphalist discourse regarding emergency management, the affected families remain exposed and abandoned, waiting for real assistance amid the devastation.
Romero Chang is recovering under medical observation, while his case serves as a reminder of the vulnerability of thousands of Cubans in the face of atmospheric phenomena that, year after year, highlight the precariousness of the housing system and the insufficient state response to natural disasters.
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