Six communities cut off by a landslide on the road from Moa due to the rains from Hurricane Melissa

The torrential rains caused by Hurricane Melissa led to a massive landslide on the Moa-Baracoa road in the province of Holguín, which has left six communities in the Moa municipality cut off and hinders transit to Baracoa in the neighboring Guantánamo province, official sources reported.

The landslide, located about 15 kilometers from the mining city, completely destroyed a section of the road, creating a sinkhole over 80 meters long and approximately 30 meters deep, which prevents traffic in both directions, reported the director of the radio station La Voz del Níquel, Camilo Velazco Petittón.

The moense communities of Punta Gorda, Quemado del Negro, Cañete, Cupey, Cayo Grande de Yamanigüey, and Yamanigüey have remained isolated since early Wednesday morning.

Local authorities ordered the construction of a detour as an alternative to restore traffic.

Starting this Thursday, workers from the "Pedro Sotto Alba" and "Ernesto Che Guevara" factories are working on the development of a temporary road that will allow vehicles to pass in both directions, as reported by the source.

The authorities warned drivers that the damaged section remains closed and it is not possible to pass through it in either direction. Recovery efforts continue under adverse weather conditions, while damages are being assessed and roadway safety measures are being reinforced.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba in the early hours of October 29 in the town of Chivirico, located in the Guamá municipality on the southern coast of Santiago de Cuba province, as a Category 3 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h and a central pressure of 952 millibars.

Rated by Cuban and American meteorological experts as extremely dangerous and destructive, the powerful tropical system caused torrential rains, storm surges, and intense gusts of wind, primarily affecting the eastern provinces.

In Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Holguín, severe flooding and landslides have been reported, which have left numerous areas cut off; in addition to collapses and damage to homes, roads, hospitals, electrical networks, and other infrastructure.

In the town of El Cobre, authorities from the Catholic Church reported the death of a person during the devastating passage of the cyclone through the area. It destroyed homes and other facilities, causing significant damage to the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Patroness of Cuba.

In the last few hours, numerous operations have taken place in eastern Cuba to rescue people trapped in flooded communities due to heavy rains and rising river levels. Efforts are also underway to restore basic services.