Several sections of the railway in Santiago de Cuba are suspended following the passage of Hurricane Melissa

The Cuban Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, confirmed on Saturday severe damage to the railway in Santiago de Cuba following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which left entire sections suspended in the air and caused serious structural damage at various points along the central line.

According to the report shared by the official on Facebook, the eastern province shows "many damages in the sections of the road that have been traveled so far."

Among the most severe damages is the destruction of the embankment at kilometer 205.8, in Palma Soriano, as well as sections between kilometers 833 and 834.5 where "both tracks are left suspended."

The released images show the extent of the disaster: rails hanging over open trenches, sections lacking support, eroded bridges, and areas covered with branches and debris.

In some photos, residents and workers are seen removing fallen trees from the road, while other areas remain completely impassable.

The minister noted that the refinery near kilometer 0 also experienced damage to the railway infrastructure, and that teams in the sector are working "hard" to assess and begin recovery efforts.

In a subsequent note, the Ministry of Transportation announced that national and local passenger train services remain canceled throughout the eastern region of the country, including Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Bayamo-Manzanillo, due to track conditions that do not allow for safe operation.

Cancellations in rail transport are compounded by delays and suspensions in national bus services and flights in the eastern provinces, which are just starting to be partially restored.

For its part, the Majagua Train Station confirmed on November 2 that departures for the Santiago de Cuba–Havana and Havana–Bayamo–Manzanillo trains remain canceled, while the public will be kept informed about the restoration of service.

Images and reports indicate a near-total collapse of rail transport in eastern Cuba, while authorities assess the damage and prioritize the recovery of the areas most affected by the passage of Melissa.