Natural Caves in Yateras, Guantánamo, Prepared as Shelters for Approaching Hurricane Melissa

As Hurricane Melissa approaches, officials in Yateras, located in the Guantánamo province, have begun transforming several natural caves into temporary shelters to protect residents during the storm.

Yulien Salina Gallardo, President of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in Yateras, shared on Facebook that these caves have been identified as safe evacuation points for residents from remote communities lacking sturdy buildings.

“We are inspecting caves that have previously been used for evacuating people during past events. These locations are being prepared in a hygienic and safe manner to ensure protection,” Gallardo stated in his message.

The utilization of these natural formations as shelters is not a novel concept in the mountainous region of Guantánamo. The absence of secure infrastructure and the distance from urban centers often necessitate such extreme measures in the face of severe weather threats.

In other parts of eastern Cuba, like Guamá in Santiago de Cuba, the Civil Defense is also setting up natural shelters to safeguard families at risk.

Although efforts are being made to ensure the caves are adequately equipped with hygiene and safety measures, there remain concerns regarding the actual conditions of these spaces and the logistics involved in ensuring the effective protection of evacuees.

With Melissa nearing the eastern region as a Category 5 hurricane, residents of Yateras and other mountainous communities are confronting a high-risk situation, characterized by limited resources, fragile housing, and a scarcity of secure options for shelter from the impending storm.

The looming threat of Hurricane Melissa has compelled various eastern Cuban provinces to adopt unprecedented or extreme emergency measures.

In Guantánamo, plans have been announced to evacuate approximately 100,000 people, many of whom live in vulnerable areas where existing infrastructure cannot withstand such a powerful event.

In one of the most exposed municipalities, San Antonio del Sur, over 13,000 residents have already begun moving to makeshift shelters and elevated areas.

As the hurricane's arrival becomes imminent, emergency operations have intensified, with the phenomenon being ranked among the strongest in recent times.

Meanwhile, Civil Defense protocols have been activated throughout the eastern region, designating safe zones and making last-minute decisions such as utilizing caves, schools, and even religious temples as shelters.

An official list detailing the main national measures to minimize human and material damage has been released.

Even institutions like the Church of Santiago de Cuba have opened their doors to shelter those affected, in coordination with local authorities and defense councils.

These efforts highlight the urgent need for protective alternatives in a region plagued by structural deficiencies.

In Holguín, the lack of means to evacuate and organize the population has prompted the provincial government to call for public assistance with motorbikes and loudspeakers, revealing the limitations of state logistics amidst an emergency of this magnitude.