Attachments
This report has been prepared by the Office of the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Cuba. It covers the period from 24:00 on 21 October to 12:00 on 22 October 2024 (local time).
Summary
- For 25 hours and with an almost stationary movement, Hurricane Oscar caused unprecedented flooding in Guantánamo and rainfall volumes that exceeded 600 mm in territories such as San Antonio del Sur.
- Tens of thousands of people remain cut off. Severe infrastructure damage to sections of bridges, roads and paths could hinder the rapid distribution of aid.
- Damage is yet to be quantified, but could increase significantly as isolated territories are reached. Thousands of people have lost their belongings to flooding.
- So far, a preliminary estimate of 2,282 homes has been damaged, more than half of them with total roof collapses.
- The number of deaths after the impact of the hurricane amounted to 7 people.
- Half of the salt production in the municipality of San Antonio del Sur and almost all coffee crops, both fundamental livelihoods of the inhabitants of the area were destroyed, which could add challenges in terms of employment and economic livelihood of the families.
- Although the Civil Defense has declared a return to normalcy in the eastern provinces, the complexity of the situation in Guantánamo keeps the province in the Cyclonic Alarm Phase.
- As part of the Civil Defense System, the authorities continue to take measures for the protection of people and property.
General Overview of the Situation
Authorities described the situation in the country as “very complex,” particularly in the four Guantánamo municipalities most affected by the impacts of Hurricane Oscar: Imías, Baracoa, Maisí and San Antonio del Sur.
The death toll rose to 7 people, including a five-year-old girl and three adults over the age of 80.
With a speed of only 4 km/h, which kept him almost stationary for 25 hours over the eastern region, Oscar caused damage to thousands of homes. So far, more than 2,200 homes have been damaged, more than half of them with total roof collapses. It is estimated that this number could increase exponentially as the quantification of damages in the isolated territories progresses, especially Imías, which keeps isolated. Many residents lost all their basic necessities, including food, cooking utensils, mattresses and household appliances.
Damage to public service facilities such as warehouses, food distribution centers, pharmacies, schools and health institutions are also identified.
The province of Guantánamo remains in the Cyclonic Alarm Phase as a result of unprecedented floods, sea intrusion and rising rivers that keep thousands of inhabitants isolated. A total of 493 people were rescued from the impact of the waters, using amphibious means in many cases.
The accumulated rainfall set historical records of 650 mm in the municipality of San Antonio del Sur, where 6 of the 7 deaths were reported and where flooding reached most of the inhabitants due to the overflowing of the Ciguatos and Sabanalamar rivers. The municipality of Imías remains isolated, and could remain isolated for several days, following the destruction of bridges and roads that provide access to it from nearby towns.
Losses in agriculture affected almost the entire coffee crop, a fundamental livelihood for the inhabitants of the region, damaging up to 80% of the banana crops and 200 hectares of tomatoes. Among the negative impacts to Guantánamo and the surrounding provinces, 16,723 hectares of vegetables were reportedly damaged.
Although electricity service has been restored in most of the national territory, the effects persist for the 4 municipalities most impacted by the hurricane, with effects on water supply, the loss of stored food and limited telecommunications services.