The increase in the discharge from several dams in Granma forced the evacuation of residents in low-lying areas of the municipality of Yara due to flooding caused by the overflowing of the waterways.
According to a report by CMKX Radio Bayamo on its Facebook profile, the Bueycito dam, located in the municipality of Buey Arriba, is discharging 107 cubic meters per second, while the Yao Diversion adds another 100 m³/s to the area's hydraulic system.
The combination of both discharges has led to an increase in the flow of the rivers that run through Yara and its surroundings, causing flooding that affected several communities. As a result, it became necessary to carry out preventive evacuations of residents in the most vulnerable areas.
The Provincial Defense Council (CDP) warned of the need to remain vigilant and to intensify precautionary measures, as persistent rains continue in the Sierra Maestra, which could worsen the situation in the coming hours.
Local authorities are continually monitoring the behavior of dams and rivers due to the risk that a new increase in water levels could cause further impacts in the eastern region of the country.
The station Radio Ciudad Monumento reported that the authorities of Bayamo reached the community of Pompita, in the Mabay popular council, which is "underwater."
"It is necessary to take action with the population for the evacuation of individuals and essential resources," said the post.
Flooding and inundations in eastern Cuba
The situation in Granma adds to the circumstances faced by other eastern provinces, particularly Holguín, where the post-Melissa rains have caused new rises in the Sagua and Cabañas rivers, necessitating mass evacuations in the municipalities of Sagua de Tánamo and Moa.
Reports from local journalists detailed that in Sagua de Tánamo, authorities conducted house-to-house evacuations to prevent tragedies, after the waters of the Sagua River flooded areas that were still recovering from the damage caused by the hurricane.
In Moa, the Cabañas River rose more than three meters above its usual level, leaving several areas cut off.
The director of the station La Voz del Níquel, Camilo Velazco Petittón, reported that more than 260 people were relocated to safe shelters, with the assistance of forces from the Ministry of the Interior and brigades from the Municipal Defense Council.
The main protection center was established at the Ñico López Pre-University.
The rainfall recorded in the area -116 millimeters at the Moa Derivadora- also necessitated the opening of gates to relieve the reservoirs and prevent greater damage.
According to journalist Yulieska Hernández García, the water reached the access bridge to the Pedro Sotto Alba factory, and traffic in the area had to be closed.
Meanwhile, those affected by the hurricane Melissa are facing another blow: homes, crops, and belongings destroyed for the second time in less than a week.
"The water levels were not as high as the previous flood, but they did enter several homes," reported journalist Yulianela Barzaga Gómez, who reported on the self-evacuation of more than 2,500 people to protect their lives.
Wear and Vulnerability in Eastern Cuba
Despite the swift response from neighbors and volunteers, the situation in Granma and throughout the eastern part of the country highlights a deeper structural reality: the deterioration of infrastructure, the lack of resources, and the state's inability to prevent or mitigate natural disasters.
In Cuba, where salaries are insufficient to recover from losses and construction materials are scarce, every weather event becomes a prolonged catastrophe.
Although the official discourse insists that "no one will be left unsupported," the reality is different: families who have lost everything and survive thanks to community support, rather than institutional response.
Meanwhile, the Defense Council is maintaining a state of vigilance in several municipalities in the east due to the ongoing rains, and local journalists—from Sagua, Moa, or Yara—continue to report on a weary population that is facing the consequences alone of a system that is unable to ensure their safety and well-being.
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