Dozens of communities in eastern Cuba, primarily in Río Cauto and Guamo, have been evacuated in recent hours due to the overflow of the Cauto River basin, the longest river in the country.
According to reports from local media and official sources, hundreds of people have been evacuated, including pregnant women, mothers with newborns, and girls, who were accommodated this Saturday in the Sala Polivalente 1ro de Enero, in Bayamo.
The Civil Defense, the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), and the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) are involved in rescue efforts, while medical brigades, firefighters, and community volunteers remain mobilized to protect human lives in the face of rising rivers.
One of the most tense episodes occurred in the town of Guamo, where a train with 13 carriages managed to transport over 2,600 people to safe areas in a complex and risky operation.
During the journey, the locomotive 52554 was affected by the subsidence of the track due to the force of the water, which caused several cars to separate. However, thanks to the skill of the crew and the solidarity of the passengers, there were no injuries.
The railway authorities, with the support of the Cuban Railway Union and the Provincial Defense Council of Las Tunas, coordinated the rescue of the stranded cars and the total evacuation of the passengers, some of whom were helped with private boats due to the water level, which reached the train's stairway.
The Transport delegate in Las Tunas, Reinaldo Reyes, confirmed that the evacuees were subsequently transported by bus to Colombia, where they are receiving medical care and food.
It was also reported that the cochemotores de Jobabo returned to Guamo to pick up the people who remained in the cars and transport them to safe areas.
Very near Guamo, in Los Cayos de Río Cauto, the Ministry of the Forces rescued six people with the help of a helicopter in a complex operation, as those affected did not have access to the rooftop of the flooded building where they were located.
The National Defense Council assured that it remains vigilant in light of new evacuation needs and that efforts are underway to restore the railway and recover the equipment affected by the flooding caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
On social media, official outlets like CMKX Radio Bayamo and CNC TV Granma showcased images of the operations, while users shared supportive messages for the affected families and the personnel involved in the rescue efforts.
Heavy rains continue to affect several areas of eastern Cuba, and authorities are maintaining the alert for potential additional overflow of the Cauto River.
Filed under: