Related videos:
The Ministry of Transportation of Cuba announced this Friday a special railway operation to evacuate residents isolated by the floods in the Río Cauto popular council, in Granma province, in coordination with the authorities of Las Tunas and Granma.
According to what was shared on their Facebook profile, the device is part of a centralized plan and real-time monitoring to move people from the flooded area to safe locations.
According to the official report, a train formed in Camagüey departed at 10:00 AM heading to Jobabo and continued its journey with five additional cars to Guamo, the epicenter of the operation.
The maneuver—described as "highly sensitive"—is carried out by locomotive 52554 and a crew specifically assigned for this mission: driver Eddy Armau; engineers Ariel Caballero and Alexander Morales; and assistant drivers Rolando Moya and Pedro Giral.
As reinforcement, the Ministry of Transportation sent three motor coaches with their respective trailers to join the evacuation efforts, increasing the transport capacity and frequency of movements in the operational sections.
At 4:15 p.m., the train arrived in Guamo and the population began boarding, the note specified, adding that updates will be provided as the boarding progresses and departure schedules to the reception points are finalized.
The Railway Operations Center (COF) coordinates the operation from its headquarters, in direct communication with the stations and crews involved, to adjust schedules, train formations, and priorities based on the water level's evolution and the state of the tracks.
According to the report, the ruling Miguel Díaz-Canel, along with leaders from the MINFAR and the Civil Defense, "have been monitoring the operation minute by minute."
Critical situation in Río Cauto
Families in the municipality of Río Cauto 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 cut off from communication.
The messages, spread on social media, question the claim that "everything was under control" and warn that "there will be nothing left in Río Cauto" if reinforcements and basic supplies do not arrive.
"Please help Río Cauto, the water is rising very fast, it's something never seen before, I am making an urgent call to all the authorities in Cuba," wrote an internet user.
Amidst this atmosphere of distress, military and technical authorities reported that the Cauto River has started to recede between Cauto Cristo (Granma) and Baraguá (Santiago de Cuba), although they acknowledged that several communities remain flooded and rescue operations are ongoing.
Reports from Cubans indicate that the situation is far from being under control. The saturation of the soil and the accumulated water pose challenges to recovery and maintain the risk in riverside settlements.
Filed under: