Santiago de Cuba Faces Severe Flooding After Tropical Depression Strikes

The passage of Tropical Depression Nine has left a trail of destruction in the eastern region of Cuba, particularly in Santiago de Cuba, where relentless rainfall has caused widespread flooding, home collapses, and landslides, impacting countless families. Both state media and independent journalists have shared images and accounts that highlight the scale of this crisis.

Homes Submerged and Buildings Collapsing

On Facebook, official journalist Cuscó Tarradell painted a grim picture of the city, sharing photos of flooded streets. "Hundreds of structures are crumbling, thousands of families are facing devastating losses; dozens are trapped in their water-soaked homes; some are isolated due to rising river levels, like in Baconao," he lamented. He also emphasized the need for immediate evacuation and aid for vulnerable groups, including the elderly and homeless children. Despite the tropical depression moving away, Tarradell warned that intense rains will continue in the eastern region, posing further risks of flooding and landslides.

Public Outcry and Criticism of Official Response

Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared videos depicting streets turned into rivers and entire neighborhoods submerged. In the Antonio Maceo area, residents reported water levels reaching the first floors of buildings, while leaks were noted in apartments on the fifth floor. Near the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, residents complained that poor planning of the cemetery's expansion diverted rainwater into the Reparto Agüero homes, causing sewage and rainwater floods. Despite official visits, residents claim no effective solutions have been provided. On San Francisco Street, locals criticized the tardy response of local leaders, who only appeared at dawn with television cameras after the worst had passed. "Last night, as we nearly drowned and water flooded our homes, no one was here," expressed one frustrated resident.

Unusual Scenes and Health Risks

The floodwaters have led to some unexpected scenes. In one instance, a resident used a truck tire as a raft to navigate through the sewage-mixed waters. "Total recklessness: if an open manhole appears suddenly..." commented Mayeta. For the people of Santiago, the underlying issue is a deficient drainage system and the neglect of recurring problems that make every heavy rain a health hazard. There are growing fears that the stagnation of contaminated water could lead to disease outbreaks. Reports indicate flooding in the San Pedrito area, Jesús Menéndez Avenue, and the Alameda, where even a bar-restaurant (M’ka) was inundated. "The Río Bravo flows through the Santiago Alameda this Sunday," noted the independent reporter in another post, alongside a video showing the water rushing through the central avenue.

A City in Crisis

The heavy rains have also triggered landslides in vulnerable neighborhoods like Hoyo de Chicharrones, where a landslide invaded a home overnight. There are reports of numerous partial collapses throughout the city and in communities across the province's nine municipalities. In areas such as Perucho Figueredo, along the road to the Sabino Pupo cooperative in San Luis, landslides have put residents on high alert due to saturated soils. The crisis in Santiago de Cuba underscores the fragility of a city with deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate drainage systems, and thousands of dilapidated homes. While residents demand structural solutions and quicker responses during critical times, authorities urge people to exercise extreme caution and avoid unstable areas, riverbanks, and landslide-prone zones.

Lingering Effects of the Tropical Depression

Although the natural phenomenon is moving away from Cuba, its rain bands have left significant precipitation in the eastern region over recent days, a situation that will persist in the coming hours. The Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) has warned that the rains associated with the system will continue to affect eastern Cuba until Tuesday, with rainfall levels capable of causing sudden urban floods and river rises, as well as landslides in mountainous areas. The images from this weekend reveal a disturbing reality: amid an intense weather event, thousands of Santiago families have been left to cope with the deluge on their own, facing flooded homes and the uncertainty of what the coming hours might bring.