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Hurricane Melissa continues to hit eastern Cuba hard, where torrential rains and landslides have created a critical situation in the town of El Cobre, in the province of Santiago de Cuba.
According to official reports and posts on social media, 17 individuals —including children and elderly people— were trapped after a landslide occurred in Loma del Cimarrón, an area affected by the sudden rise of the river flowing through the town.
The first secretary of the Communist Party in the province, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, confirmed that "there is already a rescue device heading along the river" to evacuate the isolated group.
“It has rained like never before”, Johnson declared to the state press.
Rescue and salvage teams from the Ministry of the Interior and Civil Defense have been working in the area since early morning, but their efforts have been hindered by flooded terrain, landslides, and blocked access routes.
Testimonials from Isolation
In a telephone conversation with journalist Dayron Chang, doctor Lionnis Franco, one of those trapped, confirmed that the group is safe, although "the worry has not stopped."
"We are sheltered and trying to remain calm. There are two children and five elderly adults; some have asthma and high blood pressure, but we are in good health. The rescuers have called us, although they have not been able to cross due to the strength of the river," he explained.
Franco noted that the river's flow has decreased slightly, but it remains "impressive" and has reached areas that "no one remembers having seen flooded before."
Flooding and damage across the province
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that storm surges and accumulated rainfall in eastern Cuba could exceed 500 millimeters in mountainous areas, leading to catastrophic flooding and numerous landslides.
In the municipality of Santiago de Cuba, severe flooding has been reported on Avenida Patria, Plaza de la Revolución, Mar Verde, Fábrica de Aceite, and Avenida de las Américas, as well as structural damage at the recreational center Zona+.
The accumulated rainfall in El Cobre exceeds 267 millimeters, according to data from the Cuban Meteorological Institute (INSMET).
On the coast of Guamá, where the eye of the cyclone made landfall early in the morning, the waves exceed four meters, and winds of up to 185 km/h have destroyed roofs, swept away vessels, and left communities cut off.
The Charco Mono dam in Palma Soriano is completely overflowing, while Contramaestre, Segundo Frente, and San Luis report flooded roads and isolated areas.
A historic hurricane
Melissa, which reached Category 5 as it passed through Jamaica —the strongest hurricane recorded on the island in 174 years— entered Cuba as a Category 3, but with a wide area of influence.
The system maintains sustained winds of up to 195 km/h, with a storm surge of 2.5 to 3.5 meters above sea level along the southeastern coast, accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Cuban authorities confirmed the evacuation of more than 735,000 people in the eastern provinces, describing it as one of the largest protection operations since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
However, widespread blackouts and lack of connectivity hinder access to information and immediate assistance for many communities.
Civil Defense urges people to stay home
Civil Defense emphasizes that the next few hours will be crucial, especially in the municipalities of El Cobre, Guamá, Palma Soriano, and Contramaestre, where the risk of new landslides remains.
"The priority is to protect human life," local authorities emphasized. "Do not leave your homes or attempt to cross rivers or flooded areas."
Hurricane Melissa has thus left a dawn of anguish, destruction, and resilience in Santiago de Cuba, while emergency teams struggle against time and extreme conditions to rescue those trapped in El Cobre — a symbol of the human toll of a devastating phenomenon that is already ranked among the most violent of the century in the Caribbean.
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