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The hurricane Melissa caused widespread devastation in the municipalities of Guamá, El Cobre, and Tercer Frente, in the province of Santiago de Cuba, where rains, winds, and landslides left homes destroyed, roads blocked, and communities isolated.
Images published by CMKC Radio Revolución illustrate the effects of the cyclone in these areas, with landslides, fallen power poles, overflowing rivers, and impassable roads. Local authorities confirmed significant damage to infrastructure and homes, although no official reports of human casualties have been made.
In a video by Fidel Amiot, shared on Facebook by journalist Cusco Tarradell of El Cobre, scenes of total destruction and testimonies from locals reveal the magnitude of the disaster. “It took away houses, trees, mattresses, televisions. This was a phenomenon, something never seen before,” recounted a resident. “I lived through Sandy, but this Sandy has nothing to do with Melissa. She came with such force that we were left speechless,” said another local while showing the damages.
The witnesses agree that the river running through El Cobre overflew and swept away homes and structures, leaving the town without electricity. Despite the severity of the damage, state television stated that "there are no reported losses of human life," although it acknowledged "harsh impacts on the population's infrastructure, the electrical grid, and the hearts of the people."
In the municipality of Tercer Frente, images previously published by Cusco Tarradell showed destroyed bridges, landslides in mountainous areas, and isolated communities, with brigades attempting to clear roads covered by trees and mud.
Days before the impact, authorities had developed the largest evacuation operation in Santiago de Cuba since Hurricane Sandy, with nearly 169,000 people relocated to safe areas, especially in coastal and mountainous regions of Guamá and Tercer Frente, as reported by the president of the Provincial Defense Council, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia.
The hurricane made landfall at Playa El Francés in Guamá, as a category 3, with sustained winds of 180 km/h and higher gusts, leaving thousands of residents cut off from communication, according to the first graphic reports from that municipality.
Days after the meteor's passage, the province remains virtually disconnected. Only 3% of telecommunications services have been restored, according to ETECSA, which reported severe damage to the fiber optic network and over a thousand utility poles. The most significant problems persist particularly in Guamá, Segundo Frente, and Tercer Frente, where access remains limited due to landslides and destroyed roads, according to the latest reports on the recovery of telecommunications.
In the midst of this situation, the Catholic Church has provided direct assistance to those affected. According to the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba, the Parish Caritas of El Cobre distributed 695 food rations to the impacted families, with the support of 120 volunteers across 29 mission houses. “All glory is to God,” Cáritas stated in their message, where they thanked the benefactors and assured that they maintain documented records of the distributed food.
The Archdiocese also confirmed that a landslide trapped 17 people, who were rescued by emergency teams, and that the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity suffered considerable damage. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Cuba reported that humanitarian aid from the United States, valued at three million dollars, will be channeled through the Catholic Church and not through the Cuban State, in coordination with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
While local authorities emphasize the “unity and solidarity” of the people of Santiago, social media is filled with testimonies from residents showcasing the magnitude of the disaster and calling for a quicker recovery. In many neighborhoods, there is still no electricity, water, or communication. Silence remains the dominant sound in eastern Cuba following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
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