In recent hours, the town of Moa in Holguín province has been hit by severe flooding caused by torrential rains, prompting emergency evacuations in the Ecrin district. The heavy downpour, which began around 5:00 p.m. on Monday, led to the overflow of the Cabaña and Moa rivers, as reported by journalist Yulieska Hernández García on social media.
Hernández García detailed that in Ecrin, one of the hardest-hit areas, the flooding resulted from the rising Cabaña River, which was backed up by the Moa River's waters and the opening of the Derivadora's sluice gates. This situation forced the evacuation of dozens of families. The journalist, who shared images of the rain and evacuation efforts, noted that local authorities, the Municipal Defense Council, and the Rolo Veguita Defense Zone were on-site from the onset, overseeing the evacuations.
Evacuation Efforts and Challenges
Despite the presence of high vehicles and MININT personnel, Hernández García criticized the resistance from some residents to evacuate the risky areas. The situation in Ecrin escalated when floodwaters surpassed the bridge leading to the Comandante Pedro Sotto Alba factory and reached the windows of nearby homes.
A total of 73 individuals were relocated to secure state facilities, while over 200 chose to self-evacuate. Key shelters included the IPU Antonio López Fernández and several facilities linked to the nickel industry.
Flood Impact and Response
Between noon on November 25 and the early hours of November 26, Moa recorded 106 millimeters of rain, with 108 millimeters in the Derivadora area. This substantial rainfall swelled the rivers, necessitating the opening of the Derivadora gates by 60 centimeters to a meter, temporarily worsening the flooding.
By 2:45 a.m. on November 26, water levels began to drop as the gates were adjusted to open 80 centimeters. Although the river still overflowed the factory bridge, by 4:30 a.m., the water had receded significantly, allowing workers and evacuees to move safely.
Assessment and Lessons Learned
Local authorities are focusing on assessing the damage, coordinating recovery efforts, and monitoring the condition of critical infrastructure, such as the water conduit linking the purification plant to the service center tank, which remains under repair.
The proactive evacuation measures in Moa stand in stark contrast to the serious shortcomings observed during the evacuation of San Antonio del Sur and Imías when Hurricane Oscar struck in October. In that instance, poor coordination, insufficient resources, and delayed responses left many families unnecessarily exposed to danger. At least eight people lost their lives during Hurricane Oscar, according to official sources.