In the Havana neighborhood of La Lisa, a Cuban mother and her four-month-old baby were successfully rescued late Wednesday night after their home's roof collapsed during the onslaught of Hurricane Rafael. This harrowing incident, which took place in the Mercerón area, was shared on social media by Roilán Rodríguez. He described the challenging journey to the site, which involved navigating around fallen palm trees and debris that blocked the roads, compounded by relentless rain.
According to Rodríguez, the rescuers who reached the woman and her child encountered severed power lines and scattered branches along Avenue 51, extending to the University of Computer Sciences (UCI). The mother and her infant had sought shelter in a small section of the house after the roof gave way to the powerful winds. The woman explained that she had not considered evacuation because she believed the house's structure was stable enough.
Hurricane Rafael's Impact on Havana
Despite the adverse conditions, emergency assistance arrived just in time. The hurricane, while causing less damage compared to the province of Artemisa, left behind a trail of destruction throughout Havana, impacting numerous urban areas of the capital. The torrential rains and fierce winds, reaching speeds of up to 185 km/h, resulted in severe flooding in low-lying neighborhoods, structural collapses of deteriorating buildings, and forced the evacuation of thousands.
Rafael's winds uprooted large trees and stripped roofs off many homes and state buildings. The disaster affected thousands of residents, with some being evacuated in the dead of night due to the severity of the flooding and unrelenting winds. Authorities report that at least 50,000 individuals have been relocated to safer locations, while others remain sheltered with relatives and neighbors in sturdier homes.
Widespread Damage and Evacuations
One of the most alarming incidents occurred on Consulado Street in Centro Habana, where a building suffered a partial collapse, sparking panic among local residents. The passage of Rafael through Havana adds to the significant infrastructure and housing damages in other western provinces, although, fortunately, no human casualties have been reported so far.