The hurricane Melissa left a devastating landscape in the La Gran Piedra National Geopark, Santiago de Cuba: roofs torn off, houses collapsed, roads blocked, and the historic tourist area turned to ruins.
Thirteen years after the passage of Hurricane Sandy, the tragedy repeats itself with the same harshness, although the people are not the same, nor do they have hopes for a swift recovery.
The Catholic priest Leandro NaunHung posted a video on social media documenting the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in the La Gran Piedra area, one of the most iconic spots in Santiago de Cuba, although it remains forgotten land that is hard to access.
In the recording, the religious figure walks through the affected homes, navigating obstacles, and talks with the neighbors, who sadly recount how the cyclone ripped away their roofs and destroyed their belongings.
"He left no roof standing," says a woman recounting the impact of the hurricane on this rural community in Santiago de Cuba.
NaunHung also showcases the destruction of the Gran Piedra Hotel, where the cabins have lost their roofs, and the nearly complete loss of a local garden, the access to which remains blocked by fallen trees and landslides, and which is famous for the flowers it produces.
"The forest, the most beautiful thing about La Gran Piedra, has been devastated," is heard during the tour.
The La Isabelica Museum, a former coffee plantation and World Heritage site, was also severely affected.
According to the priest, the wind carried away the roof of the building, although the main structure remains standing.
Neighbors interviewed in the video claim that they have not yet received a visit or assistance from the authorities.
"Nobody has come here, father. No one," Mamita repeats, an emblematic garden worker, as she shows the damage caused by Melissa.
Others mention that the roads remain impassable and that getting to the houses must be done on foot or by using pack animals.
The testimony of NaunHung and the residents reflects the extent of the damage in a community that still recalls the impact of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Many agree that Melissa was even stronger.
"We thought it would pass as a Category three, but for me, it passed as a five," added Mamita, displaying what little remained.
The impact of Melissa has left La Gran Piedra without its tourist infrastructure and a significant portion of its homes.
The residents are trying to rebuild with recovered materials while they wait for the arrival of state assistance or support from religious organizations.
"We have life left, but almost no strength," concluded Mamita, who is one of the most important individuals in the community.
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