There is concern about the overflow of the tributaries of the river Sagua, in Holguín, whose flooding in previous days already claimed the lives of two people
14ymedio, Havana, October 29, 2025 — This Wednesday Santiago de Cuba became the gateway for Melissa, which some meteorologists have described as “the hurricane of the century,” and which still has the population in suspense. Five hours after the hurricane entered through Chivirico, a few miles from the capital city, Civil Defense began to quantify the damage. There are still 241 communities with more than 140,000 people who are incommunicado, and some 3.5 million are without electricity, according to official data.
The areas of greatest concern are Segundo Frente, Songo-La Maya and Tercero Frente, where the flow of the rivers suddenly increased, obstructing communications. In addition, Contramaestre, where strong winds were reported, also has numerous blocked roads, as do the communities of Guaninao and Ruta Martiana.
Some 284,000 people were “protected” throughout the province, especially in Aserradero and Guamá, where maximum winds have reached over 125 mph, with higher gusts. The waves are more than 13 feet high, and fear and desperation are spreading among relatives of the residents in Chivirico, who keep calling phones that can’t get a signal. “What we’re going through without knowing about our families is maddening,” said one user on Facebook, the most popular app for posting news and sharing landlines while they are in operation.
The winds and rains in Santiago “covered the entire territory,” said the head of Civil Defense. The eye was over the small towns of Palma Soriano heading towards Mangos de Baraguá, where it crossed to Holguín. The winds created flying roofs and downed telephone lines; the damage to infrastructure will take longer to assess.
In Holguín it is still early to start assessing the damage, since the hurricane has not left its territory – and the island – but the winds have hit Mayarí very hard, and the water continues to rise. After days of flooding by the river Sagua, in Sagua de Tánamo – which left two dead – the riverbed was already at the point of overflow, which seems to have reached its tributaries. There is talk of accumulated rainfall “higher than historical records,” and it has not stopped raining.
Information is missing in Guantánamo, where winds have been around 68 mph and neighbors were talking about disasters. “In my block the water tanks are even rolling around. I think Guantánamo is falling apart.” “There is a lot of sustained wind and huge bursts, many roofs flying everywhere.” “Very strong winds. It feels like we’re on the beach and the waves are crashing. I’ve never felt this way, that outside the world is ending,” they report. Some have expressed their discomfort at the lack of prominence of their province in the morning news reports.
Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló, president of the Provincial Defense Council of Granma, reported that the reservoirs were still collecting water. No overflows were reported as of 7:00 in the morning, but the situation was very tense. “We ask the population once again not to despair, to remain safe. Only life will give us the chance to move forward, to get out of this situation. Strength, Granma,” she said.
The first reports, provided by the governor, Yanetsy Terry Gutierrez, show damage to a high percentage of homes and public and private institutions in Jiguaní, where the river overflowed and destroyed everything. Landslides, obstructions of mountain roads and roof losses are common in the countryside and the city while the rains persist.
Meanwhile, in Camagüey, the day has been less alarming than expected, according to 14ymedio sources. “Here it has not rained, there is no wind or anything. Three drops of rain throughout the morning. Sometimes you hear a breeze that is not even wind. The power came on for one hour at 12:30 am and went off at 10 in the morning the night before. We loaded up everything, filled the water tank and made today’s rice. Then at 5 am the power came back on but was gone at 7:30 am. So far, we are better than we thought we would be,” they told this newspaper.
At the moment, rainfall accumulations of up to 6 inches have been recorded, although the Institute of Meteorology has warned that in mountainous areas it could reach 18 inches. The recorded maximum winds reached 116 mph, although in most affected cities they range between 44 and 74 mph, with higher gusts.
The strong storm surges, with waves of up to 26 feet and “moderate to heavy flooding in low-lying areas of this coast,” will continue for a few more hours.
The official press has reported that UNICEF, a United Nations children’s organization, has started delivering humanitarian aid to people in shelters. The initial forecast is to reach 21,000 children and 6,000 adults placed in protection centers with hygiene kits to prevent diseases, water purification plants and tanks, waterproof blankets, roofs for temporary shelters and kits with games for children.
“It has been a very complex morning, with extensive damage, and hurricane Melissa is still on Cuban territory,” wrote Miguel Díaz-Canel this morning, urging the population to remain cautious.
“We have prepared for the worst-case scenario and the measures have been effective,” he said after a video conference with officials of the Communist Party of Cuba in which the damage is being assessed on a preliminary basis.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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