A military helicopter flies over the flooded areas of Río Cauto on Saturday, while the local residents raise their hands asking for help: another image left in the wake of Hurricane Melissa in the region.
The stunning aerial images from this reconnaissance tour, shared by the local Granma telecenter, showcase the flooded river basin and the communities cut off by the rising waters.
Subsequent publications shared in local Facebook groups show how a military helicopter landed and evacuated dozens of people.
The hurricane Melissa has struck the eastern part of Cuba, causing the overflow of the Cauto River and isolating several rural communities. In the municipality of Río Cauto, the rains left houses flooded, roads cut off, and hundreds of people evacuated to shelters.
Local media such as CMKX Radio Bayamo reported that the situation remains critical in areas like Guamo and Los Cayos, where rescue operations and the distribution of humanitarian aid are ongoing.
The authorities remain on alert for possible new overflow due to the persistent rains in the region.
Early Saturday morning, nearly 3,000 people were evacuated due to the rising river.
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