On Wednesday morning, Baracoa experienced relentless rain and powerful wind gusts as Hurricane Melissa made its way through eastern Cuba, heading northeast.
Although the heart of the storm bypassed the city of Guantánamo, its outer bands have fiercely battered the country's easternmost region, resulting in fallen trees, flooding, and power outages.
Images circulating on social media, shared by opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer García, depict the violent swaying of trees, flooded streets, and the wind's impact on local vegetation.
"This is how Baracoa woke up, Guantánamo, #Cuba. Hurricane Melissa. It's time for #Solidarity," Ferrer posted on his X account (formerly Twitter), alongside videos showing the severe weather conditions in the area.
Meteorological reports indicate that wind gusts in Baracoa have exceeded 62 mph, while rainfall has accumulated around 9.8 inches, causing rivers and streams to swell.
Local authorities have urged residents to stay in safe places due to the risk of landslides in the mountainous regions of Yunque and Maisí.
Despite being over 50 miles away from the hurricane's center, Baracoa has felt the storm's impact intensely due to Melissa's expansive wind field, which continues to affect much of eastern Cuba.
The Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) announced that adverse conditions will persist in the coming hours as the system moves out to sea north of Holguín. Precautions are advised, including avoiding travel and following Civil Defense directives.
Previous Damage from Melissa's Heavy Rains
Back on October 24, when Melissa was still a tropical storm, its extensive circulation led to heavy rains that caused landslides and the partial collapse of the Quiviján Bridge in Baracoa.
According to local media Venceremos, the incident disrupted a crucial access route to mountainous communities and affected cocoa and coconut crops, essential to Baracoa's economy.
Rising streams and saturated soil triggered road collapses and flooding in low-lying areas such as Flora and Turey, prompting local authorities to conduct technical assessments and clearing operations.
This event marked the beginning of a series of disruptions that have now worsened with the direct impact of the hurricane, highlighting the vulnerability of the region’s transportation and agricultural infrastructure in Cuba's easternmost area.
Impact of Hurricane Melissa on Eastern Cuba
What were the wind speeds reported in Baracoa due to Hurricane Melissa?
Wind gusts in Baracoa exceeded 62 mph as a result of Hurricane Melissa's impact.
How did the local authorities respond to the threat of landslides in Baracoa?
Authorities advised residents to remain in safe locations due to the potential for landslides in mountainous areas like Yunque and Maisí.
What was the effect of Hurricane Melissa on Baracoa's infrastructure?
The hurricane highlighted the vulnerability of Baracoa's roads and agricultural infrastructure, with significant damage to key access routes and local crops.