The relentless rains battering eastern Cuba have led to severe flooding in the town of Cabacú, located on the central highway just outside Baracoa. This area is still reeling from the destruction caused by Hurricane Oscar the previous Saturday. Photos shared by Primada Visión on Facebook expose the dire situation in this Baracoan community, with homes submerged in water as of Friday.
The weather forecast indicates that the rains will persist, bringing showers and thunderstorms predominantly affecting the northern coast, while the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy skies. Since the early hours, Baracoa and its surroundings have been subjected to continuous rainfall, resulting in landslides and the overflowing of the Miel River.
Communities Struggling Amid Ongoing Downpour
Adalberto Moreira Borges, a Radio Baracoa broadcaster, reported that streets such as Libertad and 1, along with several neighborhoods, are severely impacted by the floods. Critical conditions are evident in communities like La Playa, El Matadero, and Los Pinitos. According to Primada Visión, the river breaching homes is part of the alarming reality the region is facing. By 7:00 AM today, 128.8 millimeters of rain had fallen in just six hours, explained meteorologist Mirian Teresita Llanes. "These rains are connected to the presence of an extended trough over the region, the passage of a tropical wave to the south, combined with high surface moisture and a warm, humid air flow from the south," she noted.
Government Response and Public Outcry
President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the disaster in Guantánamo, caused by Hurricane Oscar, as an extraordinary event that has left a devastating imprint on several municipalities. Unable to face mounting criticism from the public regarding the government's poor handling of the disaster, he has chosen to tour the western part of the island. Although the Civil Defense General Staff had declared the recovery phase, the adverse weather has further complicated Baracoa's recovery, which had already suffered significant damage.
The community is desperately searching for those missing, with independent reports suggesting the number exceeds 60, while grappling with the lack of potable water, electricity, and food.