Tropical Depression Nine leaves in its wake a scene of devastation in Santiago de Cuba, where persistent rains have caused massive flooding, house collapses, and landslides affecting numerous families.

Both official media and independent journalists have shared images and testimonies that illustrate the scale of the emergency.

Houses underwater and landslides

The government journalist Cuscó Tarradell described on Facebook a collapsed city, along with photos of the flooded streets.

"Hundreds of structures are collapsing, thousands of families are suffering irreparable losses; dozens are inside their homes inundated with water; some are cut off from communication due to the rising rivers, as is the case in Baconao," he lamented.

It also pointed out that the most vulnerable, including the elderly and homeless children, need to be evacuated and fed immediately.

In the early morning, Tarradell revealed that there were hundreds of homes underwater.

And he warned that although the tropical depression is moving away from the country, he indicated that intense rains will persist in the eastern region, with a risk of new floods and landslides.

Citizen complaints and criticisms of the official response

Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared videos showing streets turned into rivers and entire neighborhoods underwater.

In the Antonio Maceo neighborhood, residents reported that the water level reached the first floor of the buildings, while leaks were recorded in apartments on the fifth floor.

In the area of the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, residents reported that the poor planning of the cemetery expansion diverted rainwater towards the homes in the Agüero neighborhood, causing floods that mixed sewage with rainwater.

According to those affected, although the authorities have visited the site, they have not provided effective solutions.

On San Francisco Street, residents criticized the local leaders for their tardiness, as they arrived at dawn with television cameras, after the danger had already passed.

"Last night, when we were almost drowning and the water was coming into the houses, there was no one here," said one of the outraged neighbors.

Unusual scenes and health risks

The images of the floods have also captured unusual scenes.

In a street, a neighbor used a truck camera as a raft to navigate through the waters mixed with rain and sewage.

"Total recklessness: if there is an open manhole at the moment..." Mayeta commented.

For the people of Santiago, all of this is due to the inadequate drainage system and the neglect of recurring problems that turn every heavy rainfall into a public health risk.

The concern now is that the accumulation of contaminated water could lead to outbreaks of diseases.

Reports indicate flooding in the San Pedrito neighborhood, on Jesús Menéndez Avenue, and the Alameda, where even a bar-restaurant (M’ka) was submerged.

"The Río Bravo flows through the Santiago park this Sunday," said the independent reporter in another post, alongside a video showing the current running across the central avenue.

A battered city

The rains also triggered landslides in vulnerable neighborhoods, such as Hoyo de Chicharrones, where an avalanche struck inside a home during the early hours of the morning.

Dozens of partial collapses have been reported in various parts of the city and in communities across the nine municipalities of the province.

In places like Perucho Figueredo, along the road to the neighborhood of the Sabino Pupo cooperative in San Luis, landslides have the population on alert due to soil saturation.

The crisis in Santiago de Cuba reflects the vulnerability of a city with deteriorating infrastructure, insufficient drainage systems, and thousands of homes in poor condition.

While residents demand structural solutions and a quicker response during critical moments, the authorities insist that the population take precautions and avoid traveling through unstable areas, riverbanks, and regions prone to landslides.

Depression fades, but its effects linger

Although the natural phenomenon is moving away from Cuba, its bands have left accumulations of precipitation in the eastern region in recent days, a situation that will continue in the coming hours.

This was warned in a report by the Institute of Meteorology (INSMET), whose specialists alerted that the rains associated with the system will continue to affect eastern Cuba until Tuesday, with accumulations capable of causing sudden urban flooding and river overflow, as well as landslides in mountainous areas.

The images from this weekend reveal an alarming reality: amid intense weather events, thousands of families in Santiago have had to face the fury of the rains on their own, dealing with the flooding of their homes and the uncertainty of what will come in the next few hours.

Frequently Asked Questions about Flooding in Santiago de Cuba