Residents of Songo-La Maya Cut Off as Hurricane Melissa Destroys Bridge

In the eastern region of Cuba, the community of Songo-La Maya in Santiago de Cuba province finds itself completely isolated. The Baltony (Los Reynaldo) bridge, a crucial link, has collapsed under the relentless rains and swollen rivers brought by Hurricane Melissa, leaving a scene of devastation in its wake.

Official journalist Miguel Reyes (Miguel Noticias) shared a Facebook post from a local resident, highlighting the complete isolation of the town. "Our village is entirely cut off. The bridge connecting Baltony to the municipality is entirely destroyed," the resident wrote.

The accompanying video vividly illustrates the extent of the destruction, capturing the despair of numerous families trapped without access or communication.

Infrastructure Neglect Leads to Collapse

The Baltony bridge, once a vital artery linking rural communities to the urban center of Songo-La Maya, succumbed to the force of the floodwaters, a consequence of years of neglect and inadequate maintenance.

Comments on the post express widespread frustration. "God knows when this government will provide assistance," lamented one woman from Havana. "I see them swimming; the government will be late in helping," quipped a Miami resident.

Community Faces Isolation and Despair

Another user voiced their anger: "So many soldiers in Cuba just standing by, they should go and build a temporary bridge until the water recedes."

The raging currents swept away what little remained of the bridge, leaving behind a scene of isolation, material losses, and neglect.

Neighboring Areas Also Isolated

The collapse of the Baltony bridge is not an isolated incident. In neighboring Guantánamo province, the towns of Guaibanó and El Corojo in San Antonio del Sur municipality also face isolation due to river flooding, as reported by the same source.

Furthermore, the rising Sabanalamar river prevents passage to Macambo, leaving additional rural communities entirely cut off.

Neglect and Abandonment Take Their Toll

As local authorities promise technical intervention once the waters recede, residents are left to cope with the emergency on their own, without food, transportation, medical care, or information on when help might arrive.

The tragedy in Songo-La Maya stems from decades of disinvestment in infrastructure and state negligence. Families in the area now face dire circumstances: no evacuation routes, no electricity, and no access to hospitals or basic supplies.

Government's Inadequate Response

Residents decry the lack of government assistance, relying solely on mutual support for survival. Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, president of the Provincial Defense Council, acknowledged on television the "very complex" situation in Santiago de Cuba but did not provide details about the isolated areas or specific aid plans.

Hurricane Melissa's Devastating Impact

Hurricane Melissa struck eastern Cuba with sustained winds of 165 km/h, leaving floods, landslides, and significant material losses in its wake. The municipalities of Palma Soriano, San Luis, Contramaestre, and El Cobre also report severe damage, with waterlogged streets, torn roofs, fallen poles, and destroyed homes becoming the new normal.

In Guantánamo, where Melissa's impact was equally severe, persistent rains destroyed roads and rural bridges, perpetuating isolation across the region.

A Nation in Crisis

Images on social media reveal entire neighborhoods underwater, without phone reception or transportation access. Despite the chaos, the government's response remains slow, bureaucratic, and focused on televised statements, while communities await urgent relief.

The destruction of the Baltony bridge and the isolation of Songo-La Maya starkly illustrate a nation crumbling under the dual pressures of natural disasters and structural neglect. While official discourse attempts to downplay the disaster, hurricanes exacerbate an existing systemic crisis: crumbling infrastructure, precarious housing, collapsed public services, and a state unable to protect its people.

In eastern Cuba, where Hurricane Melissa has left entire towns cut off, the disaster stems not only from the sky but also from official neglect that has condemned thousands of families to vulnerability for years. Songo-La Maya, Guaibanó, and El Corojo now stand as symbols of a fractured nation, where bridges collapse not only under water but also under the weight of a system that ceased to uphold them long ago.