Cuba: Hurricane Melissa Heavily Impacted the Eastern Road Network

 

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 4 (ACN) – The passage of Hurricane Melissa through the eastern region of Cuba caused severe damage to the road network, with traffic limitations on key sections and isolated communities, reported the direction of the National Road Center, as stated by Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Minister of Transport, on Facebook.

In the province of Las Tunas, the section between the provincial capital and Puerto Padre remained passable, although the Plan Lechero bridge had water accumulation. Authorities recommended extreme caution on that road and on the Tunas–Ojo de Agua section.

The Moa–Baracoa highway, essential for connection with the far east, was enabled only for specialized transport. Meanwhile, the Holguín–Moa and Palma–Barajagua roads remained under recovery, with traffic permitted under caution.

Granma was one of the hardest-hit provinces. The Bayamo–Cauto Embarcadero, Cauto Embarcadero–Río Cauto, and Cauto Embarcadero–border with Las Tunas sections were restricted to the passage of specialized vehicles. The Manzanillo–Cauto Embarcadero, Manzanillo–Niquero highways and the Pilón junction were in the process of recovery.

In Santiago de Cuba, the Guantánamo–Santiago and Santiago–Bayamo sections maintained normal circulation. However, the Santiago–Holguín road, via Palma Barajagua, and the roads to El Cobre and Palma Soriano registered damages that required cautious travel.

The Granma highway, from Santiago to kilometer 92, required special attention. At kilometer 57, a washout affecting one lane was reported, which was properly marked. From that point to the Uvero bridge, traffic was possible, albeit with restrictions.

The communities of Uvero, Ocujal, Palma Mocha, La Plata, La Magdalena, El Macho, and El Macío remained isolated due to damage to the road.

The Guantánamo–Baracoa highway, another essential artery for the region, remained in the recovery process, with general circulation permitted under caution.

Road authorities reported that rehabilitation work continues on the affected routes and urged the population to stay informed through official channels and avoid unnecessary travel to the compromised areas.