The town of Cueto, located in the province of Holguín, faces severe flooding in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. Homes have been inundated, structures have collapsed, and families were rapidly evacuated as the waters quickly rose.
Despite the cyclone's eye having already left Cuba, the rain persists, leaving several communities submerged and cut off, as reported by journalist Miguel Reyes and numerous social media users.
Melissa unleashed torrential rains on eastern Cuba, overflowing rivers in its path and leaving behind images of homes completely submerged in Cueto. Residents recount significant material losses and describe the urgency with which they had to flee as water levels climbed.
In the area, "many families have lost everything" due to the combined effects of strong winds and, critically, the flooding associated with the storm. As the rain continues to fall, residents struggle to salvage what remains while access to affected neighborhoods remains difficult.
The humanitarian situation is dire, with extensive damage reported to homes, crops, and electrical infrastructure, worsening the living conditions for those who remain. The ongoing rainfall keeps the potential for further flooding high, complicating immediate recovery efforts.
A local captures the historical vulnerability of the area: "The city of Holguín was built between two rivers: the Jigüey and the Marañón. Without proper cleaning, every time there's a weather event, we flood. We're underwater."
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported at 11:00 a.m. this Wednesday that Melissa is now off the eastern coast of Cuba, in the southwestern Atlantic, with a central pressure of 974 mb and moving northeast (35°) at 14 mph (22 km/h). It continues to bring heavy rainfall and storm surges to the island.
The system's core will move away from Cuba's eastern coast this morning, pass through the southeastern or central Bahamas today, and approach or move west of Bermuda by late Thursday and overnight.
The NHC has issued extensive warnings: a hurricane warning for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas, as well as for the southeastern and central Bahamas and Bermuda; a tropical storm warning for Haiti, Camagüey, and the Turks and Caicos.
Cuba is experiencing hurricane conditions in the warned areas, with weakening expected later today, while the Bahamas will see hurricane conditions today and the Turks and Caicos will have tropical storm conditions.
The threat from rainfall remains critical. Eastern Cuba will continue to experience heavy rain this morning, with totals of 10 to 20 inches and local maximums of up to 25 inches in mountainous areas, capable of causing catastrophic flash floods and numerous landslides. The rain is expected to taper off in the afternoon.
Understanding Melissa's Impact on Eastern Cuba
What was the main cause of devastation in Cueto?
The primary cause of devastation in Cueto was severe flooding due to Hurricane Melissa, which led to submerged homes, collapsed structures, and the urgent evacuation of families.
How has the humanitarian situation been affected?
The humanitarian situation is critical, with extensive damage to homes, crops, and electrical infrastructure, worsening the living conditions for affected residents.
What warnings have been issued by the National Hurricane Center?
The NHC has issued hurricane warnings for several Cuban provinces, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, as well as tropical storm warnings for Haiti, Camagüey, and the Turks and Caicos.