Heavy rains strike Baracoa, causing flooding in several areas

The heavy rains recorded in recent hours in the municipality of Baracoa, Guantánamo province, have caused severe flooding in various areas of the region, including the neighborhoods of Flora and Turey.

The rains are associated with Tropical Storm Melissa, whose center is moving slowly near Jamaica, but it could intensify and hit Cuba on Wednesday as a powerful hurricane.

Reports from the local broadcaster Primada Visión showed images shared by residents of the area on social media this Friday. The avenues are completely flooded. On Mariana Grajales Street, the water reached significant levels, affecting homes and businesses.

According to information provided by Eider Milhet Laborí, president of the Municipal Assembly of People’s Power (AMPP) of Baracoa, the intense rainfall has caused significant damage in the Quiviján area, including damage to critical infrastructure and crops.

Among the main consequences of the storm are:

• Landslides in mountainous areas have blocked several segments of the central highway, complicating communication with rural communities.
• Partial collapse of the main bridge in Quiviján, a vital structure that has become completely unusable for vehicular traffic.
• Saturation of the sewer system due to the rising of local streams, which has caused flooding in several residential areas.
• Agricultural impacts, mainly on various crops and cacao plantations, one of the most important economic sectors in the region.

Local authorities are on the ground assessing the damage and coordinating response actions with the Civil Defense, while intermittent rain continues in the eastern part of the country.

The situation for the residents is worsening due to power outages, a lack of communication, and the limited official information they are receiving about the weather phenomenon. Social media posts from CiberCuba highlight the growing desperation among those who remain without electricity, internet access, or phone service.

"We are without electricity in Granma, with more than 18 hours a day without power, and when it does come on, it lasts only two or three hours. This way, we can’t find out anything about the storm," wrote an internet user.