Catholic Church authorities confirmed on Wednesday the death of one person during the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa through the locality of El Cobre, in the province of Santiago de Cuba.
Father Rogelio Dean Puerta, parish priest and rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Patroness of Cuba, reported that, “although the material damages are extensive, human life has been preserved, and so far there is only one known fatality in the area, an elderly person.”
The priest did not identify the deceased person nor the circumstances surrounding their death. So far, the authorities have not confirmed the death of any citizen due to the hurricane.
The Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba reproduced the information shared in an audio by Father Dean Puerta, who described the bleak situation left by the powerful hurricane in El Cobre, where -he revealed- numerous families lost their homes and all their belongings.
The note from the Archdiocese expressed sorrow that the devastating passage of Melissa through eastern Cuba has left “scenes of profound destruction in the town of El Cobre, where the spiritual heart of the nation stands: the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Patroness of Cuba.”
The parish priest recounted the moments of "tension, pain, and concern" during the last night, when the immense force of the hurricane ravaged the area. "Our elders here in El Cobre say they have never seen anything like this. It has literally devastated the village," he stated.
Despite the implementation of preventive measures, such as the protection of each stained glass window in the Sanctuary with "firmly embedded" aluminum structures, the wind's strength "exceeded all expectations" and caused multiple damages to the temple.
“The hurricane toppled masonry structures, damaged some stained glass windows, and water managed to infiltrate certain areas of the sanctuary,” described Dean Puerta.
“[We are trying to mitigate the damage to the sanctuary before heading out to explore the town. From here, atop the hill, El Cobre can be seen and it is practically devastated. Only a few houses with plate roofs remain standing; most people have lost everything],” he emphasized.
The residents of El Cobre are facing a critical situation due to the lack of electricity, the falling of power poles from the winds, and the destruction of a large portion of the homes, he stated.
The parish priest Dean Puerta has already activated the local Caritas mechanisms to "provide the first spiritual and material aid."
He explained that, initially, the church plans to "provide food to those who need it most. It is a very difficult situation, but we continue to pray a lot, on our knees, at the feet of the Virgin."
Additionally, he made an urgent appeal for solidarity from friends of the Church, sister communities, brotherhoods, dioceses, congregations, and NGOs, calling on them “to direct their gaze towards the eastern part of Cuba,” and added: “It’s going to be a very difficult time. We will need help to restore the houses and the sanctuary.”
With that goal in mind, the cleric urged the organization of volunteer groups from other provinces to assist in the reconstruction efforts. "We will need brothers to come help us, people who can come in a rustic style, with their provisions, to work with us. We need a lot, a lot of help," he insisted.
“We continue to pray a great deal. We are at the feet of the Virgin, asking for everyone who is suffering the consequences of this tragedy,” concluded the priest.
The Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba emphasized that “the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity, a symbol of hope for millions of Cubans both within and outside the country, has once again become a refuge of faith amid the pain. Even among the rubble, priests and volunteers stand alongside the image of the Mother of all Cubans, holding onto prayer and hope.”
The hurricane Melissa struck the eastern region of Cuba in the early hours of this Wednesday, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
The powerful winds, high waves, and torrential rains from the cyclone caused river overflows, landslides, severe flooding and collapse of homes and infrastructure, along with other significant material losses, primarily in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Holguín.
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