The city of Baracoa in Guantánamo is already experiencing the early impacts of Hurricane Oscar, as the sea breaches the coast, causing flooding along the seawall. A resident, Zé Niel, shared a video on Facebook that vividly captures the ocean's relentless force, with waves crashing against the seawall, leading to the initial flooding along Baracoa's shoreline.
"Look at what's coming!" exclaims the person recording the video, highlighting the sea's encroachment on homes nearest to the seawall. Beginning Saturday evening and continuing into early Sunday, vulnerable communities were urged to take precautions and evacuate due to the risk of sea intrusion and flooding from intense rainfall.
Urgent Evacuations Underway
Zé Niel also posted a video featuring a vehicle with a loudspeaker, alerting a Baracoa community about the imminent arrival of Hurricane Oscar. "Attention, attention! A hurricane is approaching. This community will be evacuated. Everyone must cooperate," announced the jeep's loudspeaker.
Similarly, Chely Tamayo uploaded images to Facebook, depicting heavy rain pounding the municipality of Maisí in Guantánamo. "Weather is deteriorating in Maisí. Hurricane Oscar brings heavy rains," she commented.
Oscar's Approach and Expected Impact
Hurricane Oscar is advancing towards eastern Cuba with tropical storm winds projected to reach speeds between 63 and 74 mph, according to the latest report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). These winds are expected to affect the region starting Sunday afternoon around 2:00 pm, intensifying into the evening and early Monday morning.
The provinces of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, and eastern Holguín are particularly at risk from this weather event. Municipalities such as San Antonio del Sur, Caimanera, Contramaestre, Palma Soriano, Mayarí, Antilla, and coastal areas near Guardalavaca are anticipated to face the most severe conditions.
Authorities Declare Alert Phases
In response to Hurricane Oscar's approach and its impending impact on eastern Cuba, authorities have declared an alert phase for the province of Camagüey and an informational phase for Ciego de Ávila. Journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso reported this development on social media, noting that a Cyclonic Alert Phase had previously been declared for provinces stretching from Las Tunas to Guantánamo.