Families in the municipality of Río Cauto, in Granma province, reported that the water continues to rise rapidly and demanded "real information" and immediate assistance in a situation they describe as "something never seen before," with streets and homes submerged and areas isolated.
The messages, spread on social media, question the claim that "everything was under control" and warn that "nothing will be left in Río Cauto" if reinforcements and basic supplies do not arrive.
"Please help Río Cauto, the water is rising very quickly, it’s something unprecedented, I am urgently calling on all authorities in Cuba," wrote the internet user Maylen Oyacita.
In the midst of this climate of anguish, military and technical authorities reported that the Cauto River has begun to recede between Cauto Cristo (Granma) and Baraguá (Santiago de Cuba), although they acknowledged that several communities remain flooded and rescue operations are ongoing.
Cuban reports indicate that the situation is far from being under control: "Tell me this is a lie, right now in Río Cauto people are fleeing, evacuating as best they can, and you the government say everything is calm, what a bold face you have, hypocrites, you better try to ensure nothing happens to more families because I will report your negligence wherever necessary."
A commission made up of leaders from the Revolutionary Armed Forces —including the chief of Engineering and the chief of the Eastern Army General Staff— along with specialists from the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, visited Cauto Cristo and Río Cauto, the municipality most affected by the rains and the overflow following Hurricane Melissa, and decided to continue evacuations and maintain surveillance over reservoirs and the lower reaches of the river.
The provincial delegate of the INRH, Marbelis Campos Busquet, assured that the 11 reservoirs in Granma are in "perfect technical condition" and that nine have reached their maximum level, while controlled discharges continue.
Nonetheless, the saturation of the soils and the accumulated water level complicate the recovery and maintain the risk in riverside settlements.
On Facebook, neighbors shared images of neighborhoods in the capital and communities like Trinidad with water inside the homes and blocked access, in contrast to the official perception that the situation was under control.
The Civil Defense maintained a cyclonic alarm phase for the municipalities of Río Cauto and Cauto Cristo this Friday due to the complex hydrological situation, while declaring a recovery phase for the rest of the province of Granma and for Santiago de Cuba, with the warning that in the aforementioned territories the danger remains "critical and dangerous."
In parallel, more than 1,300 residents of Guamo were evacuated in the early morning to Jobabo (Las Tunas) due to the imminent risk of further flooding, while support brigades continued to mobilize for specific rescues and the relocation of vulnerable individuals.
On the ground, testimonies emphasize the urgency of food, drinking water, energy, and operational means of communication to coordinate aid, in addition to boats or large vehicles to navigate the flooded areas.
The combination of overflowing waterways, saturated soils, and reservoirs at capacity leaves many residents isolated, who are seeking clarity on the behavior of the river and on the steps to take to ensure their safety and protect their belongings.
While the institutions maintain that the decrease of the Cauto is gradual, families reiterate that the water is not receding in their neighborhoods and are asking for effective answers and assistance.
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