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Cuba: Alternative Route Reopens Access to Imías After Hurricane Oscar's Devastation

Saturday, October 26, 2024 by Oscar Fernandez

Cuba: Alternative Route Reopens Access to Imías After Hurricane Oscar's Devastation
Alternative route to Imías - Image © Facebook/Miguel Noticias

Following the destructive impact of Hurricane Oscar on eastern Cuba, recovery efforts are ongoing. This Thursday, access to the municipality of Imías in Guantánamo was restored via an alternative route. According to reports from state journalist Miguel Reyes on his Facebook page "Miguel Noticias," crews successfully cleared a path to the community, which had been cut off from road access due to severe storm damage.

Reyes cited Erislandy Romero as his source, noting that "a detour from San Antonio to Macambo has been opened, although reinforcement work is still underway." He added, "This is the San Antonio detour connecting Macambo, nearly complete. Traffic is passing, but they're applying a hard surface over the gravel, and soon, they'll start work on the Yacabo Abajo bridge," the journalist reported.

Emergency Measures and Community Reactions

Hours before the road opened, the local newspaper Venceremos detailed "an air operation to transport food to Imías," a problem that seems to have been resolved following the intensive efforts. Hurricane Oscar made landfall in Cuba on October 20, leaving behind a trail of destruction in the island's easternmost province.

The hurricane's aftermath has been dire, with a preliminary death toll of seven. The situation remains critical, particularly in the municipalities of San Antonio del Sur and Imías, which experienced unprecedented flooding.

On social media, numerous individuals have criticized the authorities for the lack of timely information after the cyclone's impact in these areas, expressing concern for family members residing there. Additionally, many locals have pointed out that due to the ongoing energy crisis and lack of electricity, they were largely unaware of the hurricane's imminent approach to the region.

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