Tropical Storm Imelda battered eastern Cuba, leaving one confirmed dead, thousands displaced, and several areas cut off due to heavy rains, landslides, and flooding.
The victim, a 60-year-old man from Santiago de Cuba, died after his home collapsed under the intense rainfall. More than 18,000 residents were evacuated across the provinces of Guantánamo, Granma, and Santiago, while nearly 24,000 people were left without communications after severe damage to infrastructure and roadways.
Power supplies were also disrupted, with downed poles, damaged circuits, and structural flooding worsening the emergency. Schools in the hardest-hit areas have suspended classes until further notice.
Will Cuba be able to recover quickly from Imelda’s devastation?
It will be difficult, as a full recovery will require technical resources, international aid, and the reconstruction of key infrastructure. Authorities have declared a continuous state of alert while the storm continues to create instability across Cuba’s eastern region.
