The first images coming from the municipality of Palma Soriano, in the province of Santiago de Cuba, show a scene of total devastation following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The phenomenon made landfall in the town of Chivirico, in the Guamá municipality, early Wednesday morning as a Category 3 hurricane, causing severe damage to homes, power lines, and local infrastructure in several cities in Santiago, particularly in Palma Soriano, which was situated on the right side (the stronger side) of the cyclone's eye.
The user José Batista Falcón shared a series of photographs on Facebook that showcase the extent of the destruction in the area.
More images of the disaster caused by Melissa's passage in Palma Soriano, Santiago, wrote the internet user alongside the content that quickly went viral.
In the images, flooded streets, uprooted trees, toppled electric poles, and roofs of homes completely torn off by hurricane winds are observed.
Neighbors in the area described the event as “a terrifying early morning,” during which many spent hours taking refuge while the cyclone battered fiercely.
According to preliminary reports, hurricane Melissa made direct landfall on the southern coast of the province of Santiago de Cuba, near the municipalities of Uvero and Chivirico, and continued with great intensity towards the north. The city of Santiago was on the right side of the eye of the hurricane, which is considered the most dangerous due to the strength of its winds and the storm surge.
The system made landfall with sustained winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour, causing partial landslides, fallen trees, destruction of homes, and severe electrical outages in Palma Soriano and nearby areas.
“It was as if the earth was moving; the roofs were flying, the walls were trembling, and all that could be heard was the roar of the wind,” reported a resident of the Micro 9 neighborhood in statements to local media.
The authorities of the province confirmed that Palma Soriano is without electricity and there are reports of interruptions in telephone communications.
In addition, many rural roads remain blocked by fallen trees and landslides, making it difficult to access several communities.
The teams from the Civil Defense and Electricity of Cuba have been working since the early hours of the day to clear roads and to conduct the damage assessment. There are also reports of loss of agricultural crops and damage to educational and health facilities.
Experts consulted explain that Santiago de Cuba was on the right side of Hurricane Melissa, the most destructive quadrant of a tropical cyclone, where the translational speed combines with the system's rotation, generating stronger winds and more violent swells.
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