A Cuban doctor, Alexis Bonilla Silva, finds himself trapped with others in the rural community of Travesía, located in Urbano Noris municipality, Holguín province, after the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Melissa. His mother, Nilda Silva, has made an urgent call for assistance.
The community has been completely cut off due to the overflow of the Cauto River and its tributaries following the hurricane's impact early Wednesday morning.
In a heartfelt plea shared on social media, Nilda Silva urged authorities to evacuate her son and around 50 others who have been stranded for hours without communication or food.
"We urgently need help. A helicopter is essential. Dr. Alexis Bonilla Silva is in Travesía, with about 50 people trapped by the overflowed rivers. We are desperate. The rivers have collapsed; a helicopter is necessary. We've been waiting for more than seven hours without any response," she expressed.
Travesía, situated between San Germán and Jiguaní, lies at the boundary of Holguín and Granma provinces, an area known for its high risk of flooding.
The torrential rains from Hurricane Melissa have caused the surrounding rivers to overflow, isolating dozens of families without any means of communication.
Journalist José Luis Tan Estrada highlighted the situation on Facebook with the hashtag #SOS, criticizing the authorities' lack of action in a life-threatening scenario.
"The mother of a Cuban doctor reported that her son is cut off in Travesía, an area between San Germán and Jiguaní near Dos Ríos, completely isolated after the overflow of the Cauto River and its tributaries. The area is surrounded by water, inaccessible by road or communication means," Tan Estrada posted.
Travesía is among the most severely affected locales in Holguín, as Hurricane Melissa has triggered massive overflows of the Cauto River and smaller tributaries, severing all access routes.
Local accounts describe the stranded individuals seeking refuge on rooftops and elevated structures, deprived of food, electricity, and communication for over 24 hours.
"They're without signal, power, food, and surrounded by water on all sides," another resident confirmed on social media, underscoring the dire circumstances in Urbano Noris municipality.
As of now, there is no official confirmation of an aerial rescue operation for the group, although intervention from the Provincial Defense Council of Holguín or the Ministry of the Interior is anticipated given the imminent danger to those isolated.
Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall early Wednesday on Santiago de Cuba's southern coast as a Category 3 storm, has caused widespread flooding, power outages, and destruction across several eastern Cuban provinces. Areas like Palma Soriano, Baire, and Urbano Noris report structural collapses, isolated communities, and damage to essential infrastructure.
Urgent Rescue Efforts in Holguín
What areas have been most affected by Hurricane Melissa in Cuba?
The most affected areas include Holguín, Palma Soriano, Baire, and the Urbano Noris municipality, with significant flooding and infrastructure damage reported.
What assistance is being requested for the trapped individuals in Travesía?
The trapped individuals are in urgent need of evacuation by helicopter, as they have been stranded without communication, food, or electricity.
How has the government responded to the crisis in Holguín?
As of now, there has been no confirmed government response, although an intervention by the Provincial Defense Council of Holguín or the Ministry of the Interior is expected given the urgency of the situation.