A Cuban identified on TikTok as @dalyydanyfamily shared a heartfelt testimony about her experience with the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which struck eastern Cuba during the early hours as a Category 3 hurricane, leaving all provinces in that region without electricity and causing severe flooding, landslides, and material losses.
"That night was terrifying; honestly, I don’t even want to remember it," the visibly affected young woman recounted in the video posted on the social media platform.
The woman explained that when the hurricane hit, everything was dark, and the strong winds could be heard nonstop. At dawn, she recounted, the scene was desolate: “In front of my house, it looked like this, lots of wind and rain, but to be honest, the damage didn't seem that severe. When the connection was restored, we were able to realize what was really happening, and it was very sad.”
According to his account, many homes were completely flooded. In one of the scenes shown, a two-story house had its ground floor completely submerged in water while rescue teams evacuated the neighbors. "There were numerous collapses and material losses. We still do not grasp the full extent of the situation; we do not know how many human losses have occurred," he added.
The young woman lamented that numerous towns remain cut off and that many people abroad are unable to contact their family members on the island. "This hurricane has been terrifying, frightening. It has been a really awful situation. We have suffered a lot of losses," she expressed.
Despite the difficulties, the Cuban woman expressed her gratitude for being safe, even though she is facing shortages of electricity, water, and food: “My refrigerator is completely defrosted and what I have left is very little, but I know I am in the same situation as most people in eastern Cuba, and even better off than many who have nothing to eat.”
The TikToker also made a call for solidarity and offered to donate a mattress and some clothing to families who have lost everything. "If you know anyone from Bayamo who has suffered losses, let me know in the comments so I can get in touch with them," the woman requested, showing empathy and a willingness to help.
Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of devastation in eastern Cuba, with swollen rivers, isolated communities, and severe damage to homes and infrastructure. Authorities have not yet provided an official report on casualties or the total damage caused by the weather phenomenon.
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