Cuba has evacuated more than 66,000 residents from Guantanamo province as heavy rains threaten to unleash dangerous flooding in areas recently ravaged by Hurricane Oscar. The evacuations are concentrated in San Antonio del Sur and Imias, where severe flooding killed eight people after the hurricane struck two weeks ago.
Cuba’s Meteorological Institute warned on Sunday of significant rainfall and thunderstorms expected in the eastern part of the island. President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed the government is actively monitoring weather developments. Meanwhile, a low-pressure system south of Jamaica could bring further instability to the area.
Hurricane Oscar, a Category 1 storm that hit on October 20, has left soils in Guantanamo saturated, increasing the flood risk. The storm’s impact was severe, with over 12,000 homes and nearly 20,000 hectares of crops damaged, particularly affecting coffee plantations.
With Cuba facing its worst economic crisis since the 1990s—marked by medical and fuel shortages, frequent blackouts, and high emigration rates—recovery efforts face additional strain.
