A honeymoon that was meant to be a happy memory turned into a scene of distress in Havana. A newlywed couple had to be rescued this Sunday after being trapped due to flooding caused by a strong swell along the Malecón, during the passage of a cold front that hit the Cuban capital.
The incident was reported by the official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso, who shared a video showing rescuers from the Cuban Red Cross and the Fire Department accompanying the couple as they walked through a completely flooded street.
According to the information provided, the newlyweds were staying at the Meliá Cohíba hotel, one of the most emblematic in Vedado, when the rising tide complicated their departure to a safe area.
In a report broadcast by the Canal Caribe, Alonso explained that the sea reached the vicinity of Línea street, in what authorities described as the most significant flood of the current winter season, although it was classified as "moderate" by meteorological specialists.
The Civil Defense activated several work zones in areas such as Vedado-Malecón, Rampa, and Carmelo, due to water intrusion in streets and buildings near the coast.
According to the official report itself, the rescue of the couple occurred after relatives of the newlyweds alerted the authorities, who were conducting patrols in the affected areas.
Rescue teams managed to locate and extract them through the flooded areas to a safe location. No details were provided about their nationality, although it was indicated that they were foreign individuals.
Beyond the specific case, the floods created a familiar scene for many residents of Havana. The rising sea affected the electrical service, caused damage to building cisterns, and forced the self-evacuation of over 500 people in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality.
Streets in Vedado and areas adjacent to the Malecón were flooded, while rescue teams and heavy machinery removed vehicles trapped by the water.
The agency Associated Press (AP) confirmed that waves reached heights of up to four meters and that the sea began to encroach upon the city from Saturday night, advancing several blocks inland.
Neighbors described a dawn marked by fear, wind, and uncertainty, with power, water, and gas outages implemented as a preventive measure.
Although the authorities assured that there were no loss of human lives, the incident once again highlighted the vulnerability of large areas of Havana to increasingly intense phenomena.
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