With roofs ripped off, roads blocked, trees uprooted, and entire communities cut off from electricity and communication, the town of Baire in Santiago de Cuba woke up to devastation on Wednesday following the onslaught of Hurricane Melissa.
Journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso shared scenes of the calamity on Facebook under the stark headline: “Devastation in Baire. Heart-wrenching images from the ground.”
The photos, also aired by Canal Caribe, depicted collapsed homes, downed power lines, and debris scattered throughout the area.
“These images bear witness to Hurricane Melissa... Baire, October 29, 2025,” Alonso noted, including a brief video that captured the extensive destruction caused by the storm.
Striking in the early hours with winds exceeding 200 km/h, Hurricane Melissa fiercely impacted the municipalities of Contramaestre, Palma Soriano, and Baire.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the eye of the hurricane made landfall near Uvero-Chivirico, moving northward with its most perilous right quadrant sweeping over the heart of Santiago province.
Resonating Shock on Social Media
Social media has been flooded with posts about the aftermath in Baire. User Yau A. Salcedo shared: “Every image that comes through is incredibly painful,” along with a series of photos showing roof collapses, flooded streets, and desperate residents trying to salvage belongings from the wreckage.
In another post, Salcedo remarked: “The wrath of Hurricane Melissa left behind immense sorrow and grief. While Baire mourns no human losses, the material devastation is significant.”
Salcedo’s words resonate with the distress of thousands of families grappling with the aftermath of the most destructive cyclone to hit the region in years.
Local authorities confirmed a complete power outage in the municipality, while communication systems remain unstable. Several rural areas are isolated due to fallen trees and landslides.
Struggling Communities and Relief Efforts
“We’re cut off; no electricity, no signal, and people are using machetes and axes to clear the roads,” a resident communicated through radio messages sent to the provincial station.
Teams from the Civil Defense and the Ministry of the Interior are on the ground in the hardest-hit areas, working on clearing debris and assessing damage.
Preliminary reports estimate dozens of homes destroyed or severely damaged, along with significant losses in agricultural crops and state warehouses.
Residents described the impact hours as “a nightmarish dawn.” Many were evacuated to makeshift shelters, while others stayed home, reinforcing roofs and doors against the battering winds.
“The noise was deafening, like a train passing over us. We felt the walls shake and the roof lift,” recounted a woman from La Ceiba neighborhood, where several homes were completely demolished.
Hurricane Melissa, which reached Category 3 as it crossed eastern Cuba, has left a trail of destruction across Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Granma.
Although authorities report no human casualties, the material damage is extensive, and recovery efforts are expected to take weeks.
Hurricane Melissa's Impact on Baire: Key Questions
What was the wind speed of Hurricane Melissa?
Hurricane Melissa struck with winds exceeding 200 km/h, causing severe damage in the affected areas.
How did the local authorities respond to the disaster?
Local authorities deployed Civil Defense and Ministry of the Interior teams to assist in clearing debris and assessing damage in the most affected areas.
Were there any fatalities reported?
Fortunately, there have been no reports of human casualties, although the material losses are substantial.