The municipality of Sagua de Tánamo, in the province of Holguín, is currently among the most affected areas in eastern Cuba following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on the island during the early morning as a powerful category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
During the early hours of this Wednesday, users on social media shared shocking images and videos showing streets turned into rivers and homes partially flooded.
The overflow of the Sagua River has caused severe flooding in several areas of the region.
Neighbors report that the water has reached historic levels, flooding homes, businesses, and main roads.
Some residents had to take refuge in higher areas.
The eye of the hurricane over Holguín
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States, at 5:00 am the eye of Hurricane Melissa was located over the Holguín province, slowly moving northeast at 19 km/h.
It is expected that the phenomenon will move out to sea in the next one or two hours, although its effects will continue to be felt in much of eastern Cuba for the rest of the day.
Sustained winds reach 185 km/h, with stronger gusts causing tree falls, downed power poles, and detached roofs.
At Leeward Point Field, near Guantánamo Bay, gusts of up to 120 km/h were recorded, according to reports from the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba.
Torrential rains and saturated soils
Melissa has downloaded torrential rains over Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Las Tunas, where authorities have activated emergency protocols and evacuated thousands of people to state shelters or safe housing.
Rainfall accumulations could exceed 500 millimeters, with measurements reaching up to 625 mm in mountainous areas such as the Sierra Maestra, which has led to landslides and partial collapses in rural communities.
In Sagua de Tánamo, the saturation of the land and the overflow of the river have exacerbated the situation.
Rescue and Salvage Brigades, along with medical personnel and volunteers, remain deployed in the area to assist those affected.
Emergency in Eastern Cuba
The tropical storm wind field of Melissa extends nearly 300 kilometers from its center, which has broadened the area of impact across the eastern region.
Local authorities warn that, although the cyclone will leave the territory in the coming hours, the rains will continue and may still lead to catastrophic flooding.
The Provincial Defense Council of Holguín has urged the public not to attempt crossing rivers or flooded areas while teams from the Electric and Telecommunications Company work to restore affected services.
With Melissa still over Cuban territory, the country is facing one of the most difficult days of the current hurricane season, with considerable damage to homes, roads, and electrical systems, and entire communities struggling to recover from the fury of the hurricane.
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