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“People are still trapped, my God, help,” cried a Cuban this Saturday from Río Cauto, in the province of Granma, where the flooding caused by Hurricane Melissa has left several families trapped and desperate, and rescue teams have not been able to reach all the affected areas.
In a message shared on Facebook, Amanda Yaimee Milanés warned that her family had still not been evacuated in the community of Santa Rosa, one of the areas hardest hit by the flooding of the Cauto River.
“The Milanés family is still there. When I managed to get in touch with my dad, they still hadn't come to get them. The helicopter came in but picked up the people who were at the plate house, and they are on the other side of the line, up on the roof... God, help,” he wrote alongside an image with the word “HELP” in red letters.
Her post reflects the anguish of dozens of families who remain cut off in various parts of the municipality, as rescue operations continue and the rains keep the water level steady, although it has yet to start receding.
Another user, Day Puty Figueredo Pino, also sought help on social media: “We need assistance for the 6 at Santa Rosa and for those who are still on the pontoon; they need to be rescued. Their families are pleading for help for these individuals who are there filled with fear and panic.”
Later, from the Revolico Río Cauto page, the same user reported that some rescues had been carried out in the Grito de Yara area, but emphasized that the situation remained critical.
"Babies without food need milk, they need food. The sources of support for families have run out... Until when will this continue? Supposedly we are better off than other places. It's not about who is right or wrong, it's about providing help for everyone because hunger is also a disease," he wrote.
The authorities in Granma reported hours earlier that four helicopters and amphibious equipment from the Army had been deployed to evacuate residents trapped in riverside communities, including Grito de Yara, Guamo, and Santa Rosa, which were the hardest hit by the floods of the Cauto River. However, local testimonies suggest that the rescues are progressing slowly and that there are still people without assistance.
In recent days, scenes of total desolation in several areas of the municipality have been reported, where residents are denouncing "complete abandonment," hunger, lack of communication, and a shortage of food. Although hundreds of people have been moved to shelters in Bayamo and other municipalities, the emergency continues.
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