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The Provincial Defense Council of Santiago de Cuba activated an emergency plan this Saturday due to the risk of overflowing from two reservoirs and the intense rains that Hurricane Melissa will bring, which is approaching the eastern part of the country as a powerful Category 4 system.
According to information from TV Santiago on their Facebook page, local authorities assessed preventive measures in light of the imminent threats of flooding, storm surge, and landslides.
The president of the Provincial Defense Council, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, warned about the danger posed by the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and Protesta de Baraguá reservoirs, identified as the main risk points due to the potential overflow from increased rainfall.
Authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of residents living downstream from both reservoirs, who will be relocated to emergency shelters.
It was indicated that the evacuation must be completed by 11:00 AM this Sunday.
The plan prioritizes the protection of vulnerable groups, including children, high-risk pregnant women, kidney patients, and homeless individuals, with support from transportation services and the local health system.
The Defense Council also insisted on limiting the circulation of vehicles and people, and on concentrating the use of transportation for evacuation efforts and resource protection.
The provincial president reiterated that there is ongoing vigilance over the reservoirs and watercourses due to the scenario of heavy rains and strong winds from the approaching hurricane Melissa, which threatens to impact eastern Cuba in the coming hours.
The meeting also examined security measures such as tree trimming, the removal of lighting fixtures, traffic lights, and signs, as well as an intensive cleaning plan for the streets and the clearing of drainage systems.
The Institute of Meteorology of Cuba warned this Sunday about the imminence of strong swells in the southern seas of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo, caused by the proximity of the powerful hurricane Melissa, which has reached Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
According to the latest Tropical Cyclone Advisory No. 12 issued by the Forecast Center, the weather phenomenon has undergone a rapid intensification process in recent hours, with sustained winds of 220 kilometers per hour and a central pressure of 944 hectoPascal.
The system is located south of Jamaica, about 415 kilometers south of Santiago de Cuba, moving slowly westward at seven kilometers per hour.
Cuban authorities warned that starting this Sunday, strong swells will begin along the southeastern coast, especially in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo.
The meteorological agency urged caution in coastal areas and advised against maritime activities due to the risk of dangerous waves.
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