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A crew from the Carahatas base in the municipality of Amancio, in the province of Las Tunas, successfully evacuated dozens of people from the community of Guamo in Granma, following the floods caused by Hurricane Melissa, which left the area practically underwater.
According to a report from , transport workers used a ferrobús —a Diana bus adapted to run on rails— to transport residents to the municipality of Jobabo, where they were welcomed by local authorities and support staff. The operation was coordinated with the railway transport base and the Municipal Defense Council of Amancio.
The crew departed for Río Cauto on Saturday night and, without a second thought, ventured into the flooded areas to rescue the residents. The individuals were transported by vehicle to the train that awaited them to continue their journey to Jobabo, under extremely difficult conditions due to the rising waters of the Cauto River and the deteriorating terrain.
Photographs by digital creator Yaidel Miguel Rodríguez Castro depict the water level reaching the rails, in a context where conventional rail transport was disrupted due to ground subsidence between Guamo and the La Torre Pumping Station.
According to CNC TV Granma, the interruption was not due to a derailment, but rather the collapse of the ground under the weight of the cars, eroded by the current of the Cauto River. The situation forced part of the rescue to be carried out using boats, operated by border guards from Nuevitas, in Camagüey, who transported people from the most flooded areas to where they could board the motor coaches and rail buses. The personnel, according to the testimony of Rodríguez Castro himself, played a crucial role, maneuvering through strong water currents and obstacles, in conditions that tested their skill and bravery.
The hurricane Melissa has caused severe damage in eastern Cuba, particularly in the Cauto River basin, where more than 2,600 people have been evacuated. Rescue operations in Guamo are still ongoing with the participation of the Civil Defense, the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), and numerous civilian volunteers.
Before the arrival of the ferrobús, the images circulating from Guamo depicted the devastating impact of the Cauto River overflow, with flooded homes, makeshift boats, and families waiting for rescue from rooftops.
In the midst of the emergency, there has also been an increase in citizen solidarity. In the municipality of Jobabo, electric bike-taxi drivers joined in the transport of evacuees, while groups of neighbors, religious organizations, and local artists collaborate by providing food, clothing, and basic necessities to those affected.
The images of rescues involving trains, boats, and bicycle taxis have gone viral on social media as a symbol of altruism and community resilience, amidst a crisis that has tested the country's response capabilities and the solidarity among Cubans.
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