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The passage of Hurricane Melissa through eastern Cuba has had a devastating impact on the municipality of Songo La Maya in Santiago de Cuba, where it destroyed hundreds of homes, schools, roads, and other infrastructure, according to preliminary figures from the Municipal Defense Council.
The magnitude of the disaster caused by the powerful cyclone is enormous and is reflected in the severe damage to infrastructure, homes, public service centers, and agriculture in the Santiago locality, reported the provincial telecenter TvSantiago.
The impact on the residential sector is significant, with more than 850 houses damaged. There were 75 total collapses and 383 partial ones; 57 roofs completely destroyed and 294 with partial damage, as well as another 42 homes with breaks in walls and bathrooms, primarily.
The electrical system suffered severe damage due to the falling of poles and sections of lines. A total of 27 fallen distribution poles and eight overturned were reported; nine downed subtransmission poles -six of which were broken- and 16 sections of line on the ground.
The entire territory remains without electrical service, reported on Sunday by the TV Songo La Maya Correspondence.
Also, important bridges collapsed, including Los Reynaldo and La Perla, and numerous rural roads and culverts were damaged, preventing access to the communities of Jutinicú, Ponupo, Loma del Gato, Jarahueca, Matahambre, and others. Landslides and accumulations of debris continue to hinder access to rural areas.
According to the report from the Defense Council, 16 medical centers are affected, primarily due to damage to the roofs, while in the education sector, 36 schools have suffered some form of destruction: three completely collapsed, 23 report damage to roofs, and an unspecified number has issues with doors and windows.
A total of 43 establishments in commerce and gastronomy were reported to have structural damage and issues with roofs, as well as collapses, although this figure was not specified. Meanwhile, 12 units of the Food Industry, including bakeries, are showing the effects of the hurricane's impact.
The total collapse of the bus terminal workshop, along with structural damage and roof breaks at several terminals, further exacerbates the already deepening crisis of local public transportation.
Agriculture was also severely affected by the cyclone, with several hectares of coffee and other crops lost, in addition to damage to a dozen entities and production structures.
Melissa also caused damage to five institutions of the People's Power and sports and labor facilities in the municipality.
The torrential rains from the meteorological phenomenon caused several rivers to swell, while 15 water reservoirs collapsed, leading to severe flooding and the isolation of numerous towns in the municipality, including Los Reynaldo, following the collapse of the Baltony bridge, a structure that connected the rural communities and the urban center of Songo-La Maya.
The state television of Santiago de Cuba reported that efforts are underway to recover from the hurricane's damage in the municipality. The communications -it stated- "are gradually stabilizing" and "work is ongoing on the electrical service."
This Monday, the first shipment of tiles to assist those affected by the hurricane arrived in Songo La Maya. The local government announced that distribution will begin in the community of Jarahueca, one of the most severely impacted by the meteorological event.
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