The first images coming from Bayamo, the capital of Granma province, show severe flooding, fallen trees, and gusts of wind caused by Hurricane Melissa, which left heavy rains in its wake as it passed through eastern Cuba.
Videos published by CMKX Radio Bayamo and CNC TV Granma demonstrate the extent of the phenomenon: streets turned into rivers, leaning utility poles, and fallen trees due to the force of the wind. Some of the footage shows water completely covering the sidewalks in front of public buildings and residences in the city center.
According to reports from the local station, the municipalities most affected by the rains in Granma are Jiguaní (159 mm), Guisa (123 mm), Bayamo (117 mm), Media Luna (112 mm), and Cauto Cristo (107 mm). Three reservoirs —Paso Malo (Bartolomé Masó), Corojo (Guisa), and Derivadora Vicana (Media Luna)— are currently releasing water, which increases the risk of further flooding in the coming hours.
Since 7:00 a.m., CNC TV Granma confirmed that the rains and gusts of wind continued to batter the city, while residents shared images showing detached roofs and branches fallen on vehicles. In several residential areas, water has entered the doorways of homes, and the main access points remain blocked.
"The course of the Bayamo River has reached unprecedented levels, local residents claim," reported the local station later.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that the eye of Hurricane Melissa was located over the province of Holguín in the morning, with sustained winds of up to 185 km/h and moving northeast at 19 km/h. Although the center of the system did not pass directly over Granma, the feeder bands have brought heavy rains to Bayamo and neighboring municipalities.
Meanwhile, in Sagua de Tánamo, in the province of Holguín, the overflow of the Sagua River caused historic flooding that submerged homes and businesses, according to reports from neighbors and rescue teams. Further southeast, in Santiago de Cuba, the mornings revealed a landscape of destruction with flooded streets, detached roofs, and isolated communities.
The authorities are keeping the cyclone alert phase active throughout the eastern region and are urging the population not to leave their homes until conditions improve. Rescue and Salvage brigades are deployed in Granma to assess the damage and assist those affected.
Melissa's passage once again highlights the precarious infrastructure of eastern Cuba, where heavy rains, power outages, and a scarcity of resources worsen the daily lives of thousands of families.
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