Residents in the Río Cauto municipality of Granma province are fleeing their homes independently as floodwaters rise rapidly and some areas remain isolated. Numerous citizen reports on social media depict inundated streets and submerged homes, with urgent calls for assistance.
"Río Cauto is completely underwater... the water is rising too quickly," warned users who had been alerting to the worsening conditions since the previous night.
Meanwhile, officials reported a decrease in the water level of the Cauto River between Cauto Cristo (Granma) and Baraguá (Santiago de Cuba). However, they acknowledged that several communities remain submerged, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Military and Government Response
A task force comprising leaders from the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the Eastern Army, and the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH) inspected Cauto Cristo and Río Cauto—the areas hardest hit by the rains and flooding. They advised continuing evacuations and maintaining constant surveillance of reservoirs and the river’s lower course.
Marbelis Campos Busquet, the provincial delegate of the INRH, assured that all eleven reservoirs in Granma are in "perfect technical condition," with nine reaching their full capacity. She dismissed rumors of the Cauto El Paso dam being out of control.
According to her, the reservoir has been managing high volumes from Baraguá and Céspedes, and while it continues to discharge, it is doing so within the designed parameters.
Local Reports and Continued Evacuations
Despite official statements, posts in local groups such as Revolico Río Cauto paint a grimmer picture, showing images of flooded neighborhoods in communities like Trinidad and apartment buildings in the municipality. Families report blocked access routes and plead for honesty and assistance.
These accounts claim the emergency is "not under control," and a return to normalcy seems distant.
Amid the crisis, evacuations persist. Around 1,300 residents from Guamo were urgently relocated to the Jobabo municipality (Las Tunas) due to the threat of further flooding, while Cuban Red Cross and rescue teams conduct operations in Cauto Embarcadero, within Río Cauto itself.
In the most challenging areas, neighbors have resorted to moving "as best they can" to higher ground, awaiting help, according to citizen reports.
"We keep asking for help, and I won’t stop until something is done. The water is rising too fast; if you check my profile, since last night, you can see how the situation is worsening," another resident lamented.
Ongoing Challenges and Precautions
With saturated ground and reservoirs still discharging, authorities continue hydraulic monitoring and urge extreme caution.
The priority, they emphasized, is to maintain rescue and evacuation operations in areas still underwater, while gradually restoring communications and opening safe corridors for aid access.
Neighborhood accounts confirm that many continue to leave on their own to escape the advancing floods.
FAQs about the Río Cauto Flood Crisis
What is causing the floods in Río Cauto?
The floods in Río Cauto are primarily due to heavy rains causing the river to overflow, compounded by saturated ground and high reservoir levels.
What measures are being taken to assist the affected residents?
Authorities have organized evacuations, continued rescue operations, and are monitoring hydraulic systems to manage the situation. Citizens are also moving independently to safer areas.
How are local communities responding to the emergency?
Local communities are taking proactive steps, including self-evacuating to higher ground, while sharing real-time updates and calls for help through social media.