The municipality of Urbano Noris, in the province of Holguín, is facing a critical situation due to severe flooding caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The local station Radio SG La Voz del Azúcar reported that several communities remain cut off and that the Municipal Defense Council is working at full speed on rescue and evacuation efforts.
According to a report published by the broadcaster on Facebook, the municipality is experiencing severe damage due to heavy rainfall and the overflow of rivers and streams.
Eight communities are isolated, including Estrada, San Bartolo, Travesía, Cauto 3, and the Urban Popular Council South, which are regarded as the most affected so far.
“Urbano Noris is currently facing a critical situation regarding flooding. Several communities are isolated, with eight reported incidents. The most severe situation is in Estrada, San Bartolo, Travesía, Cauto 3, and the Urbano Sur Popular Council,” reported Radio SG.
The journalist Jonathan Samuel Miranda from the municipal station reported that rescue and evacuation operations for affected individuals are being carried out towards safer areas, in coordination with the Civil Defense forces, firefighters, and local volunteers.
In a second report, Radio SG confirmed that a group of families from the rural community of Rey-2 was successfully evacuated, one of the areas most affected by the flooding. To reach the area, it was necessary to clear and enable part of the San Germán-Holguín route, which had been blocked by fallen trees and debris.
"Through a joint effort of various factors, a number of affected individuals from the rural community of Rey-2 were rescued. To reach this area, it was necessary to clear part of the San Germán-Holguín route, a step that becomes an important link to connect the other rural communities that have not yet been reached," reported journalist Miranda.
Rescue efforts continue amid a challenging situation, with heavy rains, swollen currents, and completely flooded areas. Emergency teams are working with rudimentary means, tractors, and state vehicles to transport trapped individuals and distribute essential food supplies.
The Municipal Defense Council of Urbano Noris has its disaster response structure actively in place. The authorities reported that the protection of children, the elderly, and the sick is prioritized, while evacuation centers are being set up in schools and state entities in the town of San Germán.
The station Radio SG urged residents to not attempt to cross flooded rivers or roadways and to stay informed through official channels, while the cyclone alert phase remains in effect in the province of Holguín.
The hurricane Melissa made landfall early Wednesday morning along the southern coast of Santiago de Cuba as a category 3 storm, leaving a wide path of destruction, intense rainfall, and strong winds throughout eastern Cuba. The municipalities of Palma Soriano, Baire, and Urbano Noris have reported severe damage to homes, crops, and electrical networks.
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