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Cuba has experienced the impact of some of the most intense hurricanes in the Atlantic, phenomena that have marked generations due to their human, social, and economic consequences.
Over the past century, these cyclones have tested the country's resilience, leaving deep scars in entire cities, devastating crops, collapsing infrastructures, and forcing thousands of people to rebuild their lives from scratch.
The most recent addition to this long list is Melissa, which made landfall this Wednesday, October 29 in the province of Santiago de Cuba.
A story of devastation
Over the past century, numerous hurricanes have fiercely struck Cuba, impacting both rural and urban areas alike, causing humanitarian crises, multimillion-dollar economic losses, and a social trauma that remains present in the collective memory.
Next, a review of the fifteen most destructive hurricanes that have struck Cuba:
1. Hurricane of 1924 (Hurricane Ten of the Atlantic)
It is estimated that it reached Category 5, leaving around 90 dead and two towns completely devastated in the westernmost part of the country. It was one of the first major tropical cyclones documented in Cuba.
2. Santa Cruz del Sur, 1932
Regarded as the greatest natural disaster in Cuban history, a massive storm surge submerged the city, killing around 3,000 people. The sea nearly erased this locality in southeastern Cuba from the map.
3. Flora, 1963
For over 100 hours, Flora remained over eastern Cuba with erratic movements. The massive floods caused the deaths of 1,750 people.
It was a devastating event, particularly in isolated rural areas.
4. Kate, 1985
Although it was a category 2 hurricane, it affected seven provinces in the central and western regions, severely impacting agriculture and housing infrastructure. It marked the beginning of a new pattern of storms for the decade.
5. Georges, 1998
It entered as a category 2, causing severe coastal and river flooding in the eastern part of the country.
Many homes became uninhabitable, and the agricultural losses were substantial.
6. Michelle, 2001
With Category 4 status, it left five dead and significant damage to homes, telecommunications networks, agriculture, and the tourism sector, primarily in central and western Cuba.
7. Charley, 2004
This Category 3 hurricane resulted in between 20 and 35 fatalities (according to various sources) and destroyed over 40,000 homes.
The province of Havana was one of the most affected.
8. Dennis, 2005
With a category 4 rating, it crossed the island from south to north, causing 16 deaths and losses exceeding 1 billion dollars.
The center of the country experienced blackouts, landslides, and a health crisis.
9. Gustav, 2008
It struck the western end of Cuba with force, especially Pinar del Río, as a Category 5.
More than 500,000 homes were affected or destroyed. It was one of the most violent hurricanes in memory on the island.
10. Ike, 2008
Just days after Gustav, Ike struck nearly the entire island as a Category 4 hurricane, causing seven fatalities. The damage to infrastructure, crops, and housing was widespread and devastating.
11. Sandy, 2012
It made landfall as a Category 3 in Santiago de Cuba. It left 11 dead and destroyed thousands of homes.
It also caused damage to historical heritage, including colonial properties and landmark buildings.
12. Irma, 2017
A powerful Category 5 that swept across the northern coast of Cuba.
It caused the deaths of 10 people and resulted in damages exceeding 13 billion dollars. The floods affected Havana and dozens of coastal communities.
13. Ian, 2022
With Category 3 strength, Ian devastated western Cuba, primarily affecting tobacco crops, which are essential for the economy.
He was responsible for the first national blackout recorded on the island, leaving the entire country without electricity.
14. Óscar, 2024
A category 1 hurricane, but with a significant impact in the eastern part of the country.
Eight people died, and there was severe damage to homes, crops, and road infrastructure. The persistent rains caused landslides and road closures.
15. Rafael, 2024
It struck western Cuba as a category 3, leaving significant material damage and yet another nationwide blackout in its wake.
Housing, road networks, and health centers were severely affected.
A persistent threat
Cuban geography, extending like a backbone in the midst of the Caribbean, makes the island a recurring target for hurricanes.
Technological advancements have allowed for better anticipation of these phenomena, but structural vulnerability, resource scarcity, and the energy crisis exacerbate the effects each time a hurricane makes landfall in the country.
Melissa: The Last Whip
Hurricane Melissa, classified as extremely dangerous, made landfall in Cuba at 3:10 a.m. local time this Wednesday along the southern coast of Santiago de Cuba, in the municipality of Guamá, specifically at El Francés beach, near the city of Chivirico, as confirmed by the National Hurricane Center of the United States.
Radar and satellite images indicated that Melissa made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h and a minimum central pressure of 952 millibars, which keeps it classified as a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
The impact in Cuba occurred after its devastating passage through Jamaica, where Melissa made landfall as a category 5 hurricane, causing catastrophic flooding, landslides, and severe structural damage.
Her arrival in eastern Cuba comes at a time of accumulated vulnerability following years of infrastructural decline, energy shortages, and an agricultural crisis.
The case of Melissa, still unfolding, reminds us that each hurricane season can bring new tragedies. And in Cuba, the hurricane is never a thing of the past. It is living memory, an open scar, and also a future threat.
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