Recently, social media platforms have been flooded with a heartfelt plea from a young Cuban woman seeking assistance for the residents of Guamo, a town in Río Cauto, Granma province, affected by severe flooding.
"Please, I ask everyone from the bottom of my heart to share this, just share it. All I want is for everyone to share this video," said the tearful Cuban, Mily Tamayo, in a video that quickly went viral online.
"The town of Guamo, in Río Cauto, where my parents live, is sinking. There isn't a single train to get people out. People are stranded at the terminal, desperate, and houses are collapsing," she continued.
"The water is covering everything. Please tag everyone so they might send something. Houses are being submerged. There are sick people without care, and my mother has high blood pressure," she emphasized.
"I'm desperate. I'm far from my parents and can't do anything. Please, have mercy. Send something," Mily concluded, referring to a "sugarcane train" that had begun evacuating some individuals.
The emotional appeal from Mily Tamayo prompted an institutional response. The Cuban Ministry of Transport announced a special railway operation on Friday to evacuate residents isolated by the floods in Río Cauto, Granma, in coordination with authorities in Las Tunas and Granma.
According to a Facebook post by the minister, the operation was based on centralized planning with real-time monitoring to transport people from the flooded areas to safe locations.
An official report stated that a train from Camagüey departed at 10:00 AM towards Jobabo, continuing with five additional cars to reach Guamo, the operation's focal point.
To reinforce efforts, the Ministry of Transport dispatched three railcars with their respective attachments to aid in the evacuation, increasing transport capacity and frequency along operational routes.
The report noted that Miguel Díaz-Canel, along with officials from MINFAR and Civil Defense, has been closely monitoring the operation.
Families in Río Cauto have reported rapidly rising waters and demanded "real information" and immediate assistance in what they describe as an unprecedented situation, with streets and homes under water and isolated areas.
Messages circulating on social media challenge the official claims that "everything is under control" and warn that "nothing will be left in Río Cauto" if reinforcements and basic supplies do not arrive soon.
FAQs on Granma Flood Evacuation Efforts
What prompted the Cuban Ministry of Transport to initiate an evacuation operation?
The Ministry acted in response to viral pleas for help due to severe flooding in Guamo, Río Cauto, which left residents stranded and in urgent need of evacuation.
How is the Cuban government addressing the flood crisis in Granma?
The government has deployed a special railway operation to evacuate affected residents and is coordinating with local authorities to manage the crisis effectively.
What concerns have been raised by the residents of Río Cauto?
Residents have expressed alarm over rapidly rising waters and a lack of immediate assistance, challenging claims that the situation is under control.