Hurricane Rafael caused severe damage in San Antonio de los Baños

The hurricane toppled poles, roofs, and trees, blocking roads and flooding areas. Recovery efforts will be extensive, according to local authorities.

Daños en San Antonio de los Baños © La Hora de Cuba / Facebook
Damage in San Antonio de los BañosPhoto © La Hora de Cuba / Facebook

The municipality of San Antonio de los Baños, in Artemisa, has been one of the hardest hit by Hurricane Rafael.

Photo: Facebook / La Hora de Cuba
Photo: Facebook / La Hora de Cuba

Strong winds that swept through the area toppled electricity poles, roofs of homes, and large trees and branches, leaving streets and roads obstructed along with debris from the damaged structures.

Photo: Facebook / Bladimir Parada
Photo: Facebook / Bladimir Parada

The heavy rains caused the water level of the Ariguanabo River to rise in the low area of the bridges, between La Placita and Plaza del 26.

Photo: Facebook / La Hora de Cuba
Photo: Facebook / La Hora de Cuba

Some neighborhoods and yards in the lower area of the town flooded due to slow drainage.

Photo: Facebook / La Hora de Cuba

According to the president of the municipal government, who spoke to Radio Ariguanabo, "there are many tasks" that need to be undertaken in the recovery phase.

Facebook Capture / Radio Ariguanabo

The portal La Hora de Cuba shared images of the devastation, which include damage to rooftops and downed wires in public areas.

Facebook Capture / The Hour of Cuba

The fallen trees, some uprooted, crushed the benches in the Church Park and the Humor Park.

Photo: Facebook / La Hora de Cuba
Photo: Facebook / Radio Ariguanabo

"In the iconic park at the Train Stop, a tree over a hundred years old fell, according to local residents who are observing the damage," the report stated.

Photo: Facebook / Radio Ariguanabo
Photo: Facebook / Radio Ariguanabo

"In Punta de Rosa, which serves as an informal terminal for the dispatch of cars and trucks, a pine tree fell on one of the sales outlets," he added.

Photo: Facebook / Radio Ariguanabo
Photo: Facebook / Bladimir Parada

The headquarters of the Tobacco Company suffered significant damage.

Facebook Capture / ABT Lázaro Peña Company

According to journalist Meylin Pérez, the Base Business Unit (UEB) Droguería Artemisa suffered several damages in its warehouses, where "the roofing of key areas related to medications was affected, damaging products and structures."

Facebook Capture / Meylin Pérez

"Efforts are being made to recover the affected medications," he said on Facebook.

Photo: Facebook / Meylin Pérez

The state-run newspaper El Artemiseño reported that the Iván Portuondo General Teaching Hospital is experiencing significant damage due to the strong winds associated with Hurricane Rafael.

The facility has damage to the roofs of much of the center, where the winds tore off the waterproof membranes, which in turn broke several pipes, including those in the neonatal unit, preventing water supply in that area.

The therapy and pre-delivery rooms lost their air conditioning compressors, which were torn from the ceiling by the winds.

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