Guantánamo woke up this Wednesday battered by strong gusts of wind, persistent rains, and widespread material damage, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa through eastern Cuba.
The images shared from various points in the city show deserted streets, fallen branches and electrical wires, as well as visible damage to homes and state-owned establishments. The constant sound of the wind and the leaning trees reflect the magnitude of the storm that, although moving toward the northeast, continues to affect the province.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa was located north of Guantánamo at 8:00 a.m., with sustained winds of 165 km/h and stronger gusts. The system, which crossed eastern Cuba during the early morning hours, caused flooding, rising rivers, and landslides in areas of the Sierra Cristal and the municipality of Baracoa.
In the provincial capital, neighborhood reports confirm partial roof collapses, broken windows, and fallen trees, especially in the neighborhoods of San Justo, La Loma del Chivo, and the city center, where gusts of nearly 120 km/h were recorded.
Although Melissa is moving toward the Atlantic, the Cuban Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) warned that rain will continue throughout the day in Guantánamo and Holguín, with a risk of coastal and river flooding.
Residents remain on alert, remembering that the effects of the cyclone extend beyond the eye of the hurricane, and that eastern Cuba continues to be the epicenter of the humanitarian and structural impact of the phenomenon.
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