Recovery efforts are ongoing in eastern Cuba as authorities respond to the destruction left by Hurricane Melissa. The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported today that recovery operations are underway across various cities and communities that suffered significant damage from the hurricane”s passage.
In a message shared on social media platform X, the Minister, Vicente de la O Levy, emphasized that work is actively being done to restore access to affected areas. He stated, “We will reach everyone. We will move forward, and we will overcome!” This reflects the government”s commitment to restoring normalcy for those impacted.
The recovery actions encompass restoring electrical services, clearing debris, distributing essential resources, and providing support to displaced families in coordination with Civil Defense entities and local governments. Reports indicate that brigades from various provinces are heading to assist in the restoration of electricity, which was heavily affected by the hurricane, damaging infrastructure, crops, and homes.
In a recent meeting of the National Defense Council, state officials reiterated the Cuban government”s dedication to ensuring that no one is left abandoned and to advancing recovery efforts expeditiously.
Severe Damage to Railways
Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, the Cuban Minister of Transport, reported on Saturday the extensive damage to railway lines in Santiago de Cuba following Hurricane Melissa. Through a Facebook post, he shared details and images from the first deputy minister, Luis Roberto Rosés, regarding the railway situation in the Santiago region.
According to Rosés, the Central Line has been affected between kilometers 833 and 834.5, with several sections of the track suspended in the air. He also noted deterioration in the branch line leading to the refinery, specifically between kilometers 0 and 1. Rosés highlighted significant issues on the Bayamo line, where an embankment was lost at the approach to a bridge located at kilometer 205.8 in Palma Soriano. Additionally, he reported dense shrubbery obstructing the railway between Palma and San Luis, further complicating rail transit.
Hurricane Melissa, which reached category three on the Saffir-Simpson scale, brought heavy rains and a powerful storm surge to the eastern region of the country. According to the Meteorological Institute, the storm made landfall at Playa El Francés in the municipality of Guamá, on the southern coast of Santiago de Cuba.
Las Tunas Assists Evacuated Residents
The province of Las Tunas is actively working to provide shelter for hundreds of residents from the Granma municipality of Río Cauto, who are facing dangerous flooding in the eastern plains. Local television reported that the provincial council, led by President Osbel Lorenzo, has set up several evacuation centers in Jobabo, Colombia, and the provincial capital to ensure the safety of those displaced.
In a show of solidarity, the people of Las Tunas have contributed food, hygiene products, and other resources to assist the evacuees, supplementing state efforts in this protective initiative. Lorenzo, who interacted with evacuees at night, reinforced the region”s commitment, stating, “Count on Las Tunas; we may not have much, but we share what we have.”
Currently, shelters remain operational at facilities such as the EIDE Carlos Leyva, the mixed center Simón Bolívar, and the University of Las Tunas, where necessary logistical and service conditions have been established.
Pinar del Río Produces Utility Poles
In Pinar del Río, workers from two forestry companies are rapidly cutting and transporting wood to produce electrical and telephone poles intended to support recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Melissa. The province aims to complete a total of 4,500 poles, measuring between 7.5 and 12 meters in length, before the end of the year.
Francisco Díaz Roque, director of the impregnation plant located in the municipality of Guane, explained that his extraction brigade is currently involved in felling the trees needed for this task. The Agroforestry Company Guanahacabibes is also contributing to the supply of poles for telecommunications.
Díaz Roque confirmed that 2,000 units of 7.5 and 9-meter poles will be produced for the rehabilitation of the networks of the Telecommunications Company of Cuba (Etecsa), along with 2,500 poles of 9, 10, and 12 meters for the Electric Union. Although the plant has operated at low levels over the past two years due to energy constraints, Díaz Roque expressed confidence in meeting the current demand, recalling that in 2019, they processed approximately 7,000 units in the final months of the year.
To fulfill the order for aiding recovery in the eastern region, chainsaws have been activated, and necessary provisions are in place. He also noted that through coordination with the Tabacuba Business Group, they have recently incorporated a logging tractor, a piece of equipment that cuts and strips trees in the forest, along with a front loader with a clamp, which increases productivity and maintains stable wood flows to the industry.
According to Díaz Roque, the international market price for poles is around 360 dollars each, while costs for their entity range between 130 and 150. Since its modernization in 2009, the impregnation plant in Pinar del Río has produced over 1.3 million quality poles, with an estimated durability of 25 to 30 years.
