On Monday, the towns of Imías and San Antonio del Sur in Guantánamo found themselves cut off due to the severe flooding triggered by the torrential rains of Hurricane Oscar. Official sources and social media reports indicate these southern municipalities have been battered by the weather system since Sunday afternoon, when Oscar made landfall in Guantánamo as a Category 1 hurricane, later weakening to a tropical storm.
Yoel Pérez García, the first secretary of the party in Guantánamo, informed the local television program "Buenos días" that the most critical situation is in these two municipalities, due to the heavy rains linked to the cyclone. "Significant rainfall has hit these areas, especially the mountains, causing water to flow into the capitals of Imías and San Antonio," he explained. "In the Caujerí Valley, 300 mm of water fell in under three hours, setting a new record."
Journalist Miguel Reyes, known on social media as Miguel Noticias, shared footage of a flooded clinic in Imías and confirmed the isolation of both Imías and San Antonio del Sur. He later detailed that the bridge near the city (2 kilometers from the municipal center) is impassable, and phone communications are also down.
Efforts and Challenges in Rescue Operations
The government, along with the Red Cross, Armed Forces, and MININT, have been actively working to protect lives, according to reports. In San Antonio del Sur, rescue units are diligently evacuating locals trapped by the swollen Sabanalamar river and other streams following Oscar's passage.
The "Guajira Guantanamera" account has circulated images and videos depicting the floods devastating these areas. The unusual rise of rivers, including the Sabanalamar, has inundated communities, damaging homes and other buildings, as noted by Alis Azahares Torreblanca, the governor of Guantánamo.
Struggle for Information and Communication
Widespread power outages since Friday have left many residents in the dark, literally and figuratively, about the hurricane's impact, prompting public outcry for better information. Many citizens were unaware of the storm's approach due to a lack of electricity and communication, which some attribute to local leadership failures.
The Cuban Presidency's social media confirmed ongoing evacuations in flooded areas with assistance from the FAR and MININT, although specific locations in Guantánamo were not mentioned. President Miguel Díaz-Canel has prioritized urgent evacuations and immediate damage assessments to expedite recovery efforts, pledging full support to the province.
Weather Updates and Continued Threats
By midday Monday, the Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) reported numerous showers and heavy rains in eastern Cuba, linked to Tropical Storm Oscar, particularly affecting Guantánamo and Holguín. Over 100 millimeters of rain fell in 11 areas, with three exceeding 200 millimeters.
The highest rainfall accumulations were recorded at Punta de Maisí with 366 mm, Puriales de Caujerí in San Antonio del Sur with 329 mm, and Jamal in Baracoa with 208 mm, all within Guantánamo. Meanwhile, the Jagüeyes reservoir in Banes, Holguín, received 198 mm.
Though Oscar is expected to weaken further, rain, showers, and thunderstorms will persist, likely remaining intense in some parts and mountainous regions. The storm is anticipated to exit Cuban territory late Monday or during the night through Holguín.