Hurricane Rafael causes significant damage to hospitals in Artemisa

Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm, caused severe damage to hospitals in Artemisa, Cuba, affecting roofs and plumbing. The Minister of Health inspected the impacted facilities following the cyclone.

Daños en hospitales de Artemisa © Collage Facebook / Periódico Artemisa - Oficial y Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia
Damage in hospitals in ArtemisaPhoto © Collage Facebook / Official Newspaper Artemisa - Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia

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 experienced serious damage due to the strong winds associated with Hurricane Rafael.

Facebook Capture / Official Artemisa Newspaper

The facility has sustained damage to the roofs of much of the hospital, as the strength of the winds tore off the waterproof membranes, which in turn broke several pipes, including those in the neonatal unit, hindering the water supply in that area.

"In response to this situation, hospital workers are manually carrying the precious liquid," the news portal reported.

The Therapy and Pre-Labor rooms were also affected; "both lost the air conditioning compressors, which were blown off the roof by the winds."

On the other hand, the generator did not sustain any damage 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 assess “the damage and impact the center suffered following Hurricane Rafael.”

Facebook Capture / Telecentro ARTV - Artemisa

According to the state-run channel, "this inspection is part of the commitment to ensure that all hospitals in the country receive the necessary attention and support to continue providing quality services."

The Cuban activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia shared on Facebook some images showing the damage caused by Rafael to the operating room.

Facebook Capture / Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia

The damage 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 struck the national territory on Wednesday evening.

The photographs shared on the Facebook profile "MINFAR Cuba" reveal a devastating scene, highlighting agricultural losses, the destruction of cultivation houses, and damage to the roofs of homes and state institutions.

Around 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Hurricane Rafael entered the country as a category 3 cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Subsequently, at around 7:00 p.m., it exited through Cabañas Bay in Artemisa, downgraded to category 2.

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