In Santiago de Cuba's rural neighborhood of El Fongal, located in the Santa María area, more than 50 families find themselves cut off after the collapse of the sole bridge linking their community to the town's center.
This incident unfolded amidst the recovery efforts promised by authorities following Hurricane Melissa's passage. However, residents claim that no official has assessed the damage or proposed a temporary solution, as reported by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on Facebook.
Collapse Leaves Community Isolated
The bridge's structural failure, attributed to heavy rainfall and prolonged neglect, has severed the main route to essential services, including clinics, schools, markets, transportation, and emergency assistance. For many residents, commuting has become a perilous ordeal.
Due to the lack of government intervention, locals resort to using makeshift paths to navigate the affected area. These alternative routes pose significant risks of flooding, landslides, and serious accidents, especially for the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses.
"We have no safe way to come or go. If it rains again, we'll be completely trapped," residents conveyed to the activist, expressing their fears of an additional weather event.
Accusations of Negligence and Legal Violations
Residents have accused municipal and provincial authorities of negligence, citing the absence of danger signs, Civil Defense presence, technical inspections, or preventive measures in the area.
Emergency Deepens Vulnerability
The isolation threatens the community's food security, access to medication, and healthcare in a region already plagued by power outages, shortages, and sanitation issues.
What others might consider a road is, for the residents of El Fongal, now a broken lifeline.
Demands for Urgent Action
The affected community calls for immediate intervention: a technical inspection of the bridge by the Viales Company, temporary measures such as a safe crossing, a provisional bridge, or assisted transportation, a definitive repair plan prioritizing rural areas affected by the hurricane, and transparency and official communication regarding forthcoming actions.
"We're not asking for privileges, just safety," Mayeta reports the residents as saying. As they navigate through an area where the bridge once stood—"as if walking on air," they describe—the fear of a tragedy looms larger with each day of institutional inaction.
FAQs on the Bridge Collapse in Santiago de Cuba
What caused the bridge collapse in El Fongal?
The bridge collapse in El Fongal was primarily due to a structural failure caused by intense rainfall and accumulated deterioration over time.
How are the residents coping with the bridge collapse?
Residents are using improvised paths to cross the affected area, although these routes are risky, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly and children.
What actions are the residents demanding from the authorities?
The residents are calling for an immediate technical inspection of the bridge, temporary safe crossing solutions, a comprehensive repair plan, and clear communication from authorities.