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The José Martí Masonic Lodge, founded in 1911 in the municipality of Palma Soriano, has been practically destroyed following the floods of the Cauto River after the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which struck the eastern part of Cuba as a category 3 storm with sustained winds of over 180 km/h.
The images sent by residents of the area to CiberCuba show rubble, collapsed walls, and severe damage to the historic building, regarded as one of the oldest Masonic temples in the eastern region.
This is how the centennial José Martí Masonic Lodge in Palma Soriano looks now, our source wrote alongside photographs that show the almost total collapse of the building, located at Martí (East) Street No. 363, in the urban center of the municipality.
The building, which celebrated its 114th anniversary since its founding on August 27th, is a significant part of the cultural and civic history of Palma Soriano.
The José Martí Lodge has been the venue for numerous fraternal gatherings and has remained one of the most active institutions of independent masonry in eastern Cuba, having been separated from the Grand Lodge of Cuba since 2007.
At that time, it hosted international delegations, including representatives from the Grand Constitutional Lodge of Peru, and was recognized as a symbol of free thought and brotherhood.
In 2011, it celebrated its centenary with events honoring the Apostle José Martí and the founding masons resting in its pantheon.
The National Major State of Civil Defense has placed several areas in eastern Cuba, including Río Cauto, Cauto Cristo, and Palma Soriano, under alert phase due to persistent flooding, power outages, and risks of new landslides.
Local authorities have urged the population to stay in shelters or in safe homes while rescue and damage assessment efforts continue.
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