A video shared by Martí Noticias has deeply moved thousands of Cubans both on the island and abroad. Captured in the regions of San Germán and Báguanos in Holguín province, the footage reveals a woman breaking down in tears as she witnesses her home inundated following Hurricane Melissa. Attempting to console her, a family member offers a phrase that has become a symbol of resilience: “Don't cry, we're alive.”
Through her tears, the distressed woman laments, “Oh, my daughter, the house is flooded, Mari…” as water engulfs the front of her home. The voice behind the camera, striving to bring calm amidst chaos, reassures her, “Relax, don’t cry, we're alive, thankfully none of the pine wires fell.” This scene encapsulates the tragedy facing thousands of families in eastern Cuba after the year's most devastating hurricane.
Hope Amidst Despair
The video, posted by Martí Noticias, quickly garnered thousands of reactions and over two thousand comments. “That man understood it all: they’re alive, that’s what matters,” one user noted, while others sent messages of faith and encouragement: “God bless them,” “stay strong,” “material things can be replaced.” Amid the comments, there were also criticisms regarding the lack of effective responses and appeals to the exile community to support those affected.
“This video breaks the heart. Such poverty, such need. How long must the Cuban people endure this?” questioned César Cárdenas Cabrera. Another user lamented, “And they say the dictatorship will provide everything, that they are attentive… these poor people have lost everything.”
Citizen Solidarity in Crisis
As authorities continue assessing the damage, civil society has taken initiative. Social and religious projects like Aliento de Vida and Palomas are gathering donations in Havana to aid those impacted in the eastern part of the country. “We still have time, and that time is worth lives, homes, and hope,” stated Pastor Yankiel Fernández, who spearheaded the relief campaign, establishing a collection point in the Cerro municipality for food, clothing, and medicine.
Simultaneously, the Palomas Project remains open in Almendares, also in the capital, to receive donations of any kind, while Cubans in exile organize fundraising and humanitarian aid shipments in Miami. These self-managed and spontaneous actions have showcased the solidarity that characterizes the Cuban people in times of crisis.
Voices of Frustration and Loss
In rural areas like Jiguaní, Granma, feelings of neglect are widespread. Cuban Marisbel Pantoja expressed on social media that no government representatives have come to assist them: “Without water, without power, and no one cares,” she wrote alongside photos of the devastation. In her municipality, as in many others, families remain isolated and unaided, striving to recover independently.
Citizen reports depict entire neighborhoods under water, impassable roads, and collapsed homes. “There is no one from the government here, no one has come to check if we are alive,” another user shared in the Jiguaní Denuncia Expediente group, reflecting the frustration of a community facing tragedy with limited resources.
Tales of Destruction and Resilience
The stories emerging from eastern Cuba portray the suffering and resilience of its people. Influencer Yaya Panoramix urgently requested help for her 78-year-old grandmother who lost her home entirely. “I won’t show the videos out of respect, but I need help, my grandmother has nowhere to sleep,” she wrote on social media, with her message quickly going viral and sparking a wave of solidarity among users.
In Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba, another Cuban shared on TikTok how the hurricane reduced her mother’s house to rubble. “Thank God she’s alive, but it still hurts,” she wrote, showing the remains of a collapsed house covered in mud.
In Velasco, Holguín, residents tearfully attempted to salvage the little that remained of their homes as water levels rose over half a meter. “What a great pain,” a woman is heard saying through sobs in a TikTok video. The images reveal floating furniture, streets turned into rivers, and families trying to save documents and memories before losing everything.
In Holguín’s capital, stylist Verónica Dantés showed her beauty salon completely submerged, recounting how she faced the storm without electricity or communications since the previous afternoon. “What sadness, my heart is heavy… I just pray to my guardian angel that nothing is broken,” she wrote, describing the helplessness of those who see years of work ruined in minutes.
Standing Strong Amidst Adversity
Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction in eastern Cuba, with collapsed homes, impassable streets, devastated crops, power outages, and a lack of potable water. While authorities assess the damage and promise assistance, Cubans once again demonstrate that neighborly and communal solidarity is the first response in an emergency.
The Holguín video, with its phrase “Don’t cry, we’re alive,” has become a beacon of hope for a people who, despite their losses, remain standing, clinging to life and mutual aid amidst adversity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holguín Floods and Hurricane Melissa
What was the impact of Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba?
Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage in eastern Cuba, leading to flooded homes, impassable roads, destroyed crops, power outages, and a shortage of drinking water.
How are the Cuban communities responding to the crisis?
Cuban communities have shown remarkable solidarity, with social and religious groups organizing aid and donations, both within Cuba and from the Cuban diaspora abroad.
What challenges are affected families facing in Holguín?
Families in Holguín face challenges such as lack of government assistance, isolation, destroyed homes, and the struggle to recover with limited resources.