Hurricane Rafael, after making landfall in the province of Artemisa as a powerful Category 3 cyclone, left a trail of destruction in its wake, causing significant damage to several hospitals in this western territory.
The official newspaper El Artemiseño reported on its Facebook profile that the Iván Portuondo General Teaching Hospital in San Antonio de los Baños suffered significant damage due to the strong winds associated with Hurricane Rafael.
The facility has sustained damage to a large portion of the hospital’s roofing, as the force of the winds tore off the waterproofing membranes, which in turn broke several pipes, including those in the neonatal unit, interrupting the water supply in that area.
"In response to that situation, hospital workers are manually carrying the precious liquid," reported the news outlet.
The therapy and pre-delivery rooms were also affected, “both lost their air conditioning compressors, which were thrown from the roof by the winds.”
On the other hand, the generator was not affected and has enough fuel to operate for four days.
Similarly, the local channel ARTV reported on its Facebook profile that the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, visited the Pediatric Hospital of Guanajay this Thursday, where he was able to observe “the damage and impacts that the center suffered after the passage of Hurricane Rafael.”
According to the official channel, “this inspection is part of the commitment to ensure that all hospitals in the country receive the necessary care and support to continue providing quality services.”
Cuban activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia shared on Facebook some images showing the damage caused by Rafael to the surgery room.
The damage caused to the false ceiling, windows, and furniture can be seen in the photographs.
The Ministry of the Armed Forces of Cuba (FAR) released several aerial images showing the extent of the damage caused in various municipalities of Artemisa by Hurricane Rafael, which affected the national territory on Wednesday evening.
The photographs shared on the Facebook profile "MINFAR Cuba" reveal a devastating scenario, highlighting agricultural losses, the destruction of greenhouses, and damage to roofs of homes and state institutions.
At around 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Hurricane Rafael made landfall in the country as a Category 3 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Subsequently, at approximately 7:00 p.m., it exited through Cabañas Bay in Artemisa, downgraded to a Category 2.
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