03 November 2025

Cuba has begun recovery efforts following the passage of the downgraded but still powerful, Hurricane Melissa, a Category 3 storm, that hit Cuba’s southeastern coast in the early hours of 29 October. The storm had earlier caused extensive damage to western Jamaica.

Melissa made landfall with sustained winds of 193 km/h (120 mph) and rainfall of up to 400 mm (16 inches) in 24 hours, according to Cuba’s Institute of Meteorology. Although no deaths have been reported access to many rural areas remains impossible. About 3.5mn people remained at press time without electricity in areas of Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, and Guantánamo.

Official Cuban reporting indicated that its winds and associated rains caused severe structural and crop damage in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Holguín before exiting the island near the municipality of Banes, in Holguin. High seas and heavy rains caused extensive flooding in low lying coastal areas, and damage to bridges, dams, roads, telecommunications, and the energy supply in the two provinces. Lesser damage was reported in the neighbouring provinces of Guantanamo, Las Tunas, and Granma.

Díaz-Canel warns of the wider post-hurricane dangers

Speaking on a special edition of the flagship television and radio programme Mesa Redonda broadcast late on 29 October, President Díaz-Canel said “that the people of the eastern provinces have withstood the brutal onslaught of Hurricane Melissa without loss of life so far is no miracle” but the result of a process of “preparation and organisation and solidarity.”

He warned, however, the danger has not passed: “The strong winds and torrential rains left in the hurricane’s wake; the overflowing riverbanks; the downed trees and power lines; the pollution generated in these circumstances—all of this can contribute to the spread of damage, disease, and even loss of life and property that was salvaged during the worst of the storm, and that we could lose if there is negligence or imprudence.”

In doing so he noted that when an assessment of all the damage has been reported, “we must address and control the epidemiological situation, and restore energy, communications, and drinking water services.” Continuing, he said: “We must ensure the responsible and orderly return of evacuees to their homes. When guidance is available, we must resume health and education services at all levels, guarantee food production and distribution, and salvage as much of the sugar and coffee harvests as possible,” and “above all” the sugar harvest that is being prepared for the next campaign.“ He also stressed the importance of restoring administrative services to the population and “beginning the rescue of damaged infrastructure, especially housing.”

His comments reflect the sense that while Cuba’s detailed civil defence measures, which saw the evacuation of up to 0.5mn people, had worked well, recovery will be complex as it takes place against a background of economic hardship, food shortages, a failing electrical system, social instability, and more recently a worrying epidemiological situation that has seen the spread of arboviruses in many provinces.

Also speaking, Roberto Morales, the Secretary of Organisation of the Cuban Communist Party, stressed the need during the recovery phase in the affected provinces for local administrations and official entities to maintain a systematic provision of information in the light of concern about an external disinformation campaign, and “anticipated electrical disruptions.” Morales stressed the need for local mobilisation during the recovery process to involve “a leading role for young people”.

03 November 2025, Issue 1300

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