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After a citizen alert, members of the Holguín Fire Department rescued a 73-year-old man on Tuesday night who was alone, trapped by the heavy rain and the rising waters of the Marañón River, and had injuries from a fall.
Before the emergency teams arrived, a local resident acted quickly and managed to assist the man, pulling him away from immediate danger, according to a report on the Facebook profile "Realities from Holguín", linked to the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).
Upon arrival, the rescue and salvage technicians assessed the elderly person and detected "evident signs of a recent fall," such as bruises on the head and other parts of the body, as well as a possible hip fracture.
The source indicated that the elderly man was evacuated from the site in an ambulance, "using safe maneuvers, avoiding abrupt movements and ensuring proper immobilization, to secure him safely in a definitive manner."
Finally, he was taken to a safe location to receive immediate medical attention, "ensuring his stability and protection against the harsh weather conditions and the risk of flooding."
The Marañón River is one of the two historic waterways that traverse the city of Holguín, along with the Jigüe River. It originates in the slopes of Loma de la Cruz and flows through central neighborhoods such as Alcides Pino, Vista Alegre, Peralta, and Pueblo Nuevo, where it merges with the Jigüe to form the Holguín River. Its flooding during heavy rains poses a real hydrological risk to the lower areas of the city.
The province of Holguín has a recurring history of floods that affect its residents. In November 2025, hundreds of families lost all their belongings due to the floods associated with Hurricane Melissa, which devastated the eastern region of Cuba.
Elderly individuals living alone represent one of the most vulnerable populations during extreme hydrological events in Cuba, where the supportive response from neighbors is often the first link in the rescue chain before professional teams arrive.
Extreme rains continue to create emergency situations throughout the eastern region of the island.
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