Heart-wrenching images continue to surface, illustrating the severe damage inflicted on numerous homes in Guantánamo after the relentless onslaught of Hurricane Oscar. The storm lingered over the province for over a day, causing widespread destruction and flooding. In a video shared by "Luis ViralInfluencer Suárez" on Facebook, a father reveals the state of his humble abode post-disaster.
"Brother, we're here after the cyclone. As you can see, we lost everything in the house, but thank God we're alive. I'm trying to salvage whatever I can," he states, showing how the storm tore apart the roof and walls of his home. The footage also captures a crib perilously close to where the roof was ripped off.
He reassures, "And that's it, we're just letting you know nothing too serious happened to us. My mom is okay, thank God. My entire house collapsed," concluding his somber testimony in front of family members.
Guantánamo's Ongoing Struggle
The situation remains dire in Guantánamo. Restoration of phone and electricity services is slow, and many residents are struggling to find food. The Cuban government has reported, in a preliminary assessment, that over a thousand homes have sustained damage across various municipalities.
Miguel Díaz-Canel visited the San Antonio del Sur municipality on Wednesday, where he faced direct criticism and complaints from locals. A man responsible for 29 children in a special school accused the government of abandoning them there.
"Water is what I need!" was the urgent plea of a Cuban mother to the leader during his tour of the province. Frustrated by governmental neglect, she raised her voice to highlight her family's plight and the broader community's suffering amidst severe flooding and a preliminary death toll of seven in Guantánamo, including a five-year-old girl.
Community Resilience Amidst Adversity
Another shocking video circulating on social media shows a family in San Antonio del Sur watching helplessly as floodwaters rise inside their home. These visuals also capture the courageous efforts of individuals rescuing neighbors, many of whom are elderly and would have perished without assistance.
Despite a massive blackout that left the country in darkness from Friday noon, complicating efforts to stay informed about the approaching storm, the Cuban government insists evacuations occurred. Over 15,000 people were relocated: 9,000 in Imías and 6,000 in San Antonio del Sur, according to the Granma newspaper.
However, the scenes from San Antonio del Sur and Imías are strikingly grim: flooded homes, spoilt food, and families desperately trying to salvage what little remains. Members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) have been involved in rescue operations, particularly in areas where water levels exceeded a meter in height.
Recovery efforts are underway, but the challenge is monumental in a nation grappling with a profound economic crisis affecting all aspects of life.