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The Ministry of Transport (MITRANS) announced this Thursday the partial reinstatement of various transport services in eastern Cuba, following the declaration of the Recovery Phase in the provinces of Camagüey, Las Tunas, and Holguín.
Authorities confirmed that the measure was taken after assessing the damage to the road infrastructure and the safety conditions following Hurricane Melissa.
The Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, informed on Facebook that it has been decided to gradually resume some services for national buses, flights, and maritime transport, while train services and operations in the province of Santiago de Cuba remain suspended due to the more severe impacts.
According to the information note from MITRANS, bus services will be partially restored starting at 12:00 AM on October 30, 2025 in the following territories:
- Camagüey: Travel to and from the western part of the country, as well as to the provincial capitals of Las Tunas and Holguín, has been restored.
- Las Tunas: Travel has been resumed from and to the provincial capital heading west across the country. Services to the interior municipalities remain suspended.
- Holguín: Travel to the west of the country has resumed, originating from and destined for the provincial capital. Routes to the other municipalities remain suspended.
Facebook post
Currently, the services of Ómnibus Nacionales, VIAZUL, and freight to Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo remain suspended “until conditions allow for the safe operation of the vehicles.”
The statement confirms that national and local train services remain canceled throughout eastern Cuba due to the damage caused by the hurricane to the railway tracks. The suspended trains include:
- Train No. 13: Havana – Guantánamo
- Train No. 16: Holguín – Havana
- Train No. 11: Havana – Santiago de Cuba
- Train No. 18: Manzanillo – Havana
The specialized brigades of the Union of Railways of Cuba are working on certifying the most affected sections to ensure the safety of train operations before resuming services.
The ministry assured that it will keep the public informed about the progress of these efforts.
The Frank País International Airport, located in the province of Holguín, resumed its national and international operations starting at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 30th.
In contrast, the Antonio Maceo Airport in Santiago de Cuba remains closed to commercial air traffic, although it is still open for humanitarian and emergency flights.
The authorities are working on upgrading the infrastructure of the Santiago terminal to allow for its reopening "in the shortest time possible."
Affected passengers must contact the airlines directly to reschedule their flights, the information advises.
The maritime port system has also begun its recovery. According to MITRANS, passenger maritime transport between Nueva Gerona and Batabanó has resumed, while the ports in the eastern region "suffered minimal impacts" and are operational and providing services.
The ships operating in the eastern region will prioritize the transportation of essential resources and humanitarian aid to the areas most affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The statement acknowledges significant damage to the road network in the eastern provinces of Cuba, where several roads remain interrupted.
The brigades from the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Transport, the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and local governments are working together to clear the roads and restore traffic.
"There are still municipalities and settlements where vehicle circulation is not possible. However, it is advised to exercise caution during travel to avoid traffic accidents," the text stated.
The reconstruction efforts include the repair of bridges, drainage systems, and sections collapsed due to heavy rains and landslides caused by Melissa, which severely impacted communications between Holguín, Granma, and Santiago de Cuba.
The Ministry of Transport concluded its statement reiterating that the process of restoration will be gradual and contingent upon road safety and the condition of the infrastructure.
Additionally, it was reported that the transportation sector remains under the orders of the Provincial Defense Councils to assist in the recovery efforts and the transportation of support brigades.
The day before, the minister reported that several land and rail routes were damaged by Melissa, which struck the eastern part of the island as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday morning.
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