Over a month has passed since Hurricane Oscar wreaked havoc, yet numerous families in Imías remain stuck in makeshift tent shelters, anxiously waiting for their homes to be rebuilt. The disaster reached its peak on October 21 when the Pozanco River overflowed, destroying countless homes through relentless rains and landslides, particularly affecting communities such as Yacabo Abajo and El Rincón, as reported by the local newspaper Venceremos.
Among those affected, Marlon Castro shared with the newspaper the harrowing experience of losing his home to nature's wrath. "We lived right by the hillside in Yacabo Abajo and never imagined the river would reach us. The water rose to the roof level, and we lost everything," he recounted. He now resides in a family tent in the temporary settlement near the Airport, an area considered relatively safe following the landslides.
The regime has announced plans to construct 30 homes in the Airport area for those whose homes were completely destroyed. Construction crews from nearby municipalities Niceto Pérez and Caimanera are involved in the building efforts; however, as is often the case on the island, progress is hampered by a lack of resources.
Resource Scarcity Hinders Reconstruction Efforts
According to the newspaper, there's a critical shortage of essential materials like wood and cement, leading to delays in the housing projects. So far, only three of the planned houses have been partially completed, with work focusing on roofing and flooring.
The initial plan aims to have the first 15 houses roofed in the coming weeks. This initiative includes a mixed approach, utilizing both block and wood constructions, with hopes that additional supplies will arrive from other regions to facilitate further progress, the publication emphasized.