The intense rains caused by Hurricane Melissa have led to severe flooding in the municipalities of Jiguaní and Bayamo, in the Cuban province of Granma.
The unusual rise of the rivers that run through both towns - the Jiguaní River and the Bayamo River - has caused road closures, widespread flooding, and concern among residents.
Overflowing of the Jiguaní and Bayamo rivers
In the municipality of Jiguaní, the rise of the river that bears its name has completely overflowed its banks, causing severe flooding in the center of the town.
Images shared by state media and users on social networks show streets completely covered with water, homes surrounded by flooding, and a collapsed urban environment.
It has been reported that the water level has reached levels not seen in recent years.
Simultaneously, the Bayamo River, which runs through the provincial capital, has also reached alarming levels.
One of the most affected areas is known as the “Chapuzón Hill,” where water has covered streets and sidewalks.
The situation has been exacerbated by the dumping of the Corojo dam, located in the municipality of Guisa, which has released additional volumes of water into the Bayamo River, raising the flood levels downstream.
Impact of Hurricane Melissa in Granma
Although the eye of Hurricane Melissa did not pass directly over the province, the system's feeder bands have brought torrential rains to the area.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) located the eye of the hurricane over the neighboring province of Holguín on Wednesday morning, with sustained winds of up to 185 km/h and moving to the northeast.
The rainfall records in Granma reflect the magnitude of the phenomenon: Jiguaní received 159 mm of rain; Guisa, 123 mm; Bayamo, 117 mm; Media Luna, 112 mm; and Cauto Cristo, 107 mm.
This accumulation in a short period has pushed local drainage systems and hydraulic infrastructures to their limits.
Three important reservoirs in the province - Paso Malo (Bartolomé Masó), Corojo (Guisa), and Derivadora Vicana (Media Luna) - are currently in the overflow phase, which poses an imminent risk of new floods and spillovers in nearby areas.
Visible damage and emergency response
The consequences of the phenomenon are already evident in multiple areas of Bayamo.
Videos shared by local media show fallen trees, knocked-down power poles, and roofs torn off by the gusts of wind.
In several residential areas, water has flooded homes, blocked entrances, and completely obstructed access routes.
On social media and local media like CNC TV Granma, citizens have documented trapped cars, branches on structures, and collapsed roofs. Since early hours on Wednesday, the city has continued to be battered by persistent rain and wind, with weather alerts still in effect.
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