He transportation in Cuba has not yet recovered from the hard blow of the Hurricane Melissaa week ago. Although bus routes and flights to the eastern area were beginning to be restored, serious damage still persists to the roads and the transportation system itself.
According to explained the minister of the sector in his networksthis Monday the progressive reestablishment of services in the eastern zone began with “new itineraries and logistical measures to guarantee safe mobility and supply to the population.”
In the case of national buses, their usual frequencies will begin to resume tonight, although with “modifications in the routes to avoid the areas still compromised” by the hurricane, said Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila.
The main modification is the detour through Holguín of the routes that travel between Las Tunas and Bayamo, and also in the opposite direction, which, although it lengthens the route, avoids the crossing of a stretch of road severely affected by the floods after the hit by Melissa.
Furthermore, in Granma all departures will be made from the provincial capital, Bayamo, while the Santiago–Moa, Santiago–Pilón and Santiago–Manzanillo routes remain suspended, “until road safety is guaranteed.”
These changes in the itineraries “will be maintained until conditions allow the official routes to be resumed, which will be informed in a timely manner,” explained the minister.
Trains and flights
Meanwhile, national and local passenger trains continue to be suspended to and from Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín and Granma, while the reestablishment of the railways affected by the hurricane “will be carried out in a phased manner, subject to technical certification.”
For their part, the Antonio Maceo airport in Santiago and the Frank País airport in Holguín are already operational, with national and international operations, according to Rodríguez Dávila.
The minister pointed out that passengers who do not wish to travel will be able to refund 100% of the value of their ticket up to 15 days after the date of their trip, while those who want to do so once services have been restored “must contact the sales agencies of the Viajero company to reschedule their trip, according to available capacities.”
Regarding maritime transport, the ports are already active and with “reinforced measures” to guarantee the unloading of food and other products, according to the official, who urged the population to “stay informed through official channels and respect the security instructions in each territory.”
Damage to roads
In another postRodríguez Dávila confirmed that the hurricane left “a trail of damage to the road infrastructure of several provinces” and that, despite the work underway, “limitations in key sections that compromise mobility and access to vulnerable communities” persisted.
Among the roads with damage reported by the minister are the Moa-Baracoa, enabled only “for specialized transport” and the Holguín-Moa and Palma-Barajagua roads, which are being recovered and allow passage “with caution.”
The situation of other roads is the same, such as those of Santiago-Holguín (through Palma Barajagua) and Cobre and Palma Soriano; as well as that of Guantánamo-Baracoa and those that link Las Tunas with Puerto Padre and Ojo de Agua.
In the case of Granma, the head of transportation warned that it is one of the hardest hit provinces. There, damage is reported on numerous roads and sections, both in the Cauto area towards Las Tunas and in the Manzanillo, Pilón and Niquero areas.
The scenario on the highway that connects Santiago and Granma along the southern coast is also complex, with sections with problems and restrictions, while a group of communities remained cut off.
To close his message, the minister asks the population to “avoid unnecessary trips to compromised areas.”
The significant damage caused by Melissa to transportation and, in particular, to road infrastructure, joins the no less shocking effects on other sectors, which represent a strong blow to the Cuban economy. Among the spheres most impacted by the hurricane are electricity, telecommunications, housing and other constructions, and agricultural activity.
