Heart-wrenching images have emerged from San Antonio del Sur, a municipality in Guantánamo, showcasing the severe flooding caused by Hurricane Oscar. "San Antonio del Sur is in pain," noted journalist Miguel Reyes on Facebook early Tuesday, as he shared videos and photos capturing the overwhelming impact of the floods in this Guantánamo locality.
Reyes reported that landslides have made it difficult to navigate through the Los Naranjos area, blocking the passage of light vehicles. Fallen trees and utility poles, along with swollen rivers, have further restricted access to various roads.
The devastation extends to critical infrastructure, with the San Antonio hospital suffering structural damage and supply losses. The "cultural neighborhood" has been completely destroyed, and banana and vegetable plantations have been left in ruins.
The Human Toll
Many homes have been entirely demolished, while others face partial destruction. In numerous instances, even when houses remained structurally sound, residents lost a significant portion of their appliances and personal belongings to the floods.
Some residents escaped harm by retreating to rooftops or upper floors, but others were caught off guard by the rapid river surge. "San Antonio is shrouded in immense sorrow. Numerous individuals have fallen victim to Oscar's wrath as it passed through the area," Reyes concluded.
Oscar's Path of Destruction
Having made landfall in Cuba on October 20, Hurricane Oscar has wreaked havoc across the eastern part of the country, with Guantánamo bearing the brunt of the destruction. The current death toll stands at six, but authorities caution that the number might rise due to the dire conditions in the hardest-hit areas.
Victims, all from San Antonio del Sur, include Francisco Colombia Matos (92), Esmeraldo Noa Fiffe (82), Antolino Areas Domínguez (84), Alexander Saben Matos (42), Irianni Labañino Domínguez (31), and a child just five years old.
Challenges Amidst Crisis
A widespread blackout, beginning midday last Friday, left much of the country in darkness, complicating the dissemination of information about the storm's approach. Despite these challenges, the Cuban government claims evacuations were conducted, with over 15,000 people relocated—9,000 in Imías and 6,000 in San Antonio del Sur.
The scenes of devastation in these areas are particularly striking, with flooded homes, lost food supplies, and families striving to salvage the few dry belongings they have left.
In a recent emergency meeting, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez emphasized that despite Oscar initially seeming like a "small cyclone," its strength and speed turned it into a catastrophic event for the eastern region.
Members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) are actively involved in initial rescue operations, especially in areas where water levels reached up to a meter high.
The Long Road to Recovery
Recovery efforts are underway, but the task is daunting, particularly in a nation grappling with a severe economic crisis and widespread challenges. The impact of Hurricane Oscar on Guantánamo has left a trail of destruction and death that will linger for years. Although the cyclone is now moving away from Cuba, the recovery work is just beginning.
With thousands still displaced and vast regions of the province inaccessible, the challenge for both authorities and the Guantanamo community is monumental. "All of Cuba is focused on Guantánamo," Díaz-Canel declared recently.