On October 20, Hurricane Oscar made landfall in Cuba, leaving a trail of destruction across the eastern region's road infrastructure. The storm has isolated several communities and caused unprecedented devastation in Guantánamo, where heavy rains and flooding severely damaged roads, disrupting communication and transportation in many areas.
The highway connecting Cantillo to La Tinta in the Maisí municipality has suffered significant damage, while the Jesus Lores bridge in Imías is precariously supported by a water tank swept away by the rising Guajacal River, according to the pro-government Facebook page, Miguel Noticias. Although access to Imías has been restored, other areas remain in a critical state.
Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Cuba's Minister of Transportation, reported that national routes from Baracoa and Maisí are still closed, as access to these municipalities has yet to be reestablished. He also mentioned that the renowned La Farola Viaduct, one of the seven wonders of Cuban civil engineering, has sustained significant damage. An assessment team discovered multiple damages in the roadways of the eastern municipalities affected by Hurricane Oscar, managing to reach the Yacabo Abajo community at the border of Imías and San Antonio del Sur. However, road access beyond this point remains cut off.
"The damage to this road is severe. We are working on a detailed report of all the road damages to Imías, the La Farola Viaduct, and assessing the condition of the bridges on the Moa-Baracoa road," Rodríguez Dávila elaborated.
The destruction extends beyond roadways, with serious damage reported to 743 homes in Baracoa and 1,007 in Maisí, including partial collapses. State facilities, such as warehouses and pharmacies, have also suffered considerable losses.