The president of the Provincial Defense Council of Santiago de Cuba, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, acknowledged this Wednesday that the situation in the province "is very complex," following the direct impact of Hurricane Melissa.
The phenomenon made landfall in the early hours of the morning in the southern part of the area, with winds exceeding 190 km/h and torrential rains that continue to impact the region.
In statements to the television, Johnson described an alarming situation, with flooding, partial landslides, and significant material damage in multiple municipalities.
"We felt it was our duty to inform the population of our country about the very complex situation in the province. It is raining heavily throughout the province of Santiago de Cuba. The winds are indeed quite noticeable," he said.
The official specified that the hurricane made landfall in the Santiago area around 3:05 in the morning near Aserradero, and its path included areas such as Palma Soriano, Maidío, and the city of Santiago de Cuba itself.
"Now many people are calling to make their report. It's quite a complex situation that has been addressed throughout the night," he added.
"In the coming hours, when the winds decrease a bit, we will have a better understanding of the situation," he added.
A province severely affected
With the dawn, the first images that circulated on social media and local media confirmed the extent of the damage.
Flooded streets, fallen power poles, ripped off roofs, and downed trees make up the scene in the city of Santiago and other municipalities in the province.
The towns of El Cobre, Palma Soriano, San Luis, and Contramaestre rank among the most affected. In El Cobre, the rise of the local river destroyed the command post, the House of Culture, and several homes near the Melgarejo area.
In Palma Soriano, the overflow of the Charco Mono dam, after receiving over 150 millimeters of rain in less than an hour, caused flooding in rural communities. In Contramaestre, blocked roads, fallen trees and power poles, and sections of highways completely submerged have been reported.
The University of Oriente suffered structural damage, while the recreational center Zona+ lost a significant portion of its glass due to the force of the winds.
In central areas of the main city such as Avenida Patria, Plaza de la Revolución, Mar Verde, and Avenida de las Américas, floods cover large stretches of public roads, according to reports from journalist Cuscó Tarradell.
In Dos Caminos, San Luis municipality, the population woke up surrounded by water. "We are cut off; the water has reached our doorstep," a resident told the local media Sierra Maestra.
The Civil Defense is on high alert, and rescue and salvage brigades are working in various areas of the province, although progress is hindered by ongoing rains and downed power lines.
Melissa: a decisive blow
Hurricane Melissa, which reached Category 5 on Tuesday while devastating Jamaica, entered Cuba weakened to Category 3 at Playa El Francés in the municipality of Guamá, with sustained winds of 195 km/h and a central pressure of 952 millibars, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States.
At 8:00 AM, the eye of the system was located about 70 kilometers northwest of Guantánamo, moving north-northeast at 22 km/h, with winds of 165 km/h.
She is expected to leave Cuban territory between morning and noon, although the bands of rain will continue to affect the eastern region throughout the day.
The accumulated rainfall since Tuesday exceeds 250 millimeters in Santiago de Cuba and 300 millimeters in the Sierra Maestra, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides.
A crisis that is worsening
Melissa's passage strikes Santiago de Cuba in a context of structural deterioration, prolonged blackouts, and scarcity of basic resources, exacerbating the effects of the hurricane.
"The coming hours will be decisive," warned Cuscó Tarradell, who described a "devastating" situation throughout the province.
With the electrical infrastructure damaged, numerous communities isolated and rural areas under water, the situation in eastern Cuba remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, Beatriz Johnson stated that the Provincial Defense Council will continue to assess the damages and coordinate rescue efforts.
"The most important thing now is to protect human lives and ensure that no one is left helpless," he said.
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