Transportation has been seriously affected after the hurricane, with the rail and National Bus service being the most affected.
LIMA, Peru – The Minister of Transportation in Cuba, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, reported this weekend on the serious effects on the railway in the province of Santiago de Cuba after the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa.
The owner disclosed on Facebook data and images that were reported to him by the first vice minister of the branch, Luis Roberto Rosés, in which the situation of the railway in Santiago territory is detailed.
The publication recognizes that the Central Line is affected between kilometers 833 and 834.5, in both lanes, with several sections in which the road remains suspended in the air. It also warns of deterioration in the branch to the refinery, between kilometers 0 and 1.
On the other hand, the vice minister warned of serious problems on the Bayamo line, where the embankment was lost on the approach to the bridge located at kilometer 205.8, in Palma Soriano.
On the Bayamo line, the embankment on the approach to the km 205.8 bridge, located in Palma Soriano, disappeared. There are abundant bushes on the road between Palma and San Luis.
“There are abundant bushes on the road between Palma and San Luis,” the publication highlights.
He transportation on the island has been seriously affected after the passage of Hurricane Melissa, with the national rail and bus service being the most damaged.
This last Friday, the basic conditions for the restart of international operations were reestablished at the Antonio Maceo international airport in the city of Santiago de Cuba, but train trips remain canceled for passengers to and from all destinations in eastern Cuba (Guantánamo; Santiago de Cuba; Holguín and Bayamo-Manzanillo).
For its part, while routes to western Cuba have been reestablished on National Buses from territories such as Camagüey, Las Tunas and Holguín, the national programming services of the state company are still paralyzed, including VIAZUL and freight services to and from the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.
The impact of Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa—a system that entered eastern Cuba as a category three hurricane, after having reached category four as it passed through Jamaica— hit the eastern region from early morning until the morning of Wednesday, October 29.
Although the authorities have not yet published an exhaustive official report of the damage, multiple images and testimonies have been released showing destroyed homes, entire communities flooded, people who have lost everyone, and entire areas cut off.
The rainfall was extraordinary: accumulations of up to 500 mm were recorded in mountainous areas, storm surges that raised the sea level between 2.5 and 3.7 meters above normal on the southeastern coast, and wind gusts that exceeded 190 km/h at the time of impact.
The magnitude of the phenomenon and the lack of communication generate a scenario of high vulnerability, in which the most affected communities are still waiting for assistance.
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) warned that around 700,000 people in Cuba, more than 7% of the population, require urgent humanitarian assistance after the devastating passing of Hurricane Melissa. The agency noted that the cyclone left serious damage to homes, crops and basic supply networks.
