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A severe local storm destroyed nearly the entire solar panel system of the Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in the municipality of Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba, putting at risk the dining hall that serves nearly one hundred vulnerable individuals, mostly elderly people.
The Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba posted on Facebook a report with photographs of the damage, signed by Yojander Pérez López, which describes how strong winds, lightning strikes, hail, and heavy rainfall impacted the area in the afternoon hours.
"Of the twelve solar panels that the Parish had, only three remained; nine were blown away, of which seven suffered severe damage, as they were shattered, and one of them ended up embedded in one of the Parish's cars," the statement details.
The images show panels with completely broken glass, deformed aluminum frames, and destroyed solar cells, stacked against the walls of the enclosure.
The photovoltaic system —comprised of 12 panels, an inverter, and batteries— had recently been acquired thanks to the joint efforts of the Italian Missionary Fathers and the Diocese of Milan.
Its main purpose was to ensure the operation of the kitchen at the Parish Dining Hall, which serves nearly one hundred vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly, as well as providing laundry services for these same beneficiaries and the After-School Tutoring Project for children in the neighborhood.
The investment was a direct response to the chronic electricity crisis that Cuba is experiencing.
"Due to the instability of the electricity deficit, constant blackouts, and disconnections from the National Electric System, it was decided to make this investment, as it is not easy to cook for nearly one hundred people with charcoal in a small space," explains the parish statement.
The system also allowed residents of Palma Soriano to charge lamps, fans, and phones, in the absence of stable electricity.
The storm was not an isolated event. Also, this same Monday, a severe local storm also struck Bayamo, the capital of Granma, with winds exceeding 100 km/h and 81.5 mm of rain in one hour, as well as hail and fallen trees that worsened the damage to the electrical infrastructure in that province.
The energy context that prompted the installation of the panels is equally serious: on Monday, the availability of the National Electric System was only 1,070 MW compared to a demand of 2,545 MW, with a projected deficit of over 2,000 MW during peak hours.
The destruction of the solar system calls into question the continuity of the cafeteria and other social services that the parish provides in light of the state's collapse.
In Santiago de Cuba, the Catholic Church and other denominations have taken on an increasing role as providers of basic assistance: the San Juan Methodist Church feeds over 400 people every Sunday, and in May the Betania House for Elders was inaugurated with support from donors in the United States.
The statement from the Archdiocese concludes with a call to hope: "May God allow us to have other panels soon, so that we can continue serving those in need."
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