Cuban activist Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia has revealed distressing footage showing families in Alquízar who have lost everything in the wake of Hurricane Rafael. The videos highlight the devastation faced by two rural wooden homes in Artemisa Province, now stripped of roofs and walls. Household appliances, beds, and furniture lay ruined and drenched beneath the debris.
"Everything. It's all ruined!" a woman remarks with resignation as she sifts through the wreckage, attempting to salvage what little remains of her belongings. Another family barely escaped disaster by leaving their home just hours before the hurricane struck. They sought refuge with friends in a sturdier masonry house. This last-minute decision saved the couple and their three young children’s lives.
The father of the family recounted, "We were going to stay, but a friend suggested, 'Come to my house; it's safer.' This morning, when we saw the state of our home, my wife broke down in tears. I told her, 'You have to be strong, look at the kids, they're safe.' We're alive."
Diasniurka Salcedo, who emigrated to the United States last year under pressure from the regime, is now spearheading a fundraising effort from Florida to aid those impacted by the cyclone in her homeland.
Devastation Across Western Cuba
Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Artemisa on November 6, 2024, as a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds reaching 115 mph (185 km/h). The storm caused extensive damage to homes, crops, and infrastructure.
In areas like Alquízar and Güira de Melena, flooding left entire neighborhoods underwater, and agricultural fields suffered significant losses, further impacting the western region’s food supply. The hurricane also triggered severe storm surges and wind gusts in Pinar del Río and Havana, leading to the evacuation of over 50,000 residents and the collapse of the National Electric System, which plunged much of the capital into darkness.
In Artemisa’s baseball stadium, a lighting tower toppled, while the provincial hospital sustained structural damage.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts
Though Rafael has exited Cuba via the Bay of Cabañas, its impact is still felt in the west, with lingering rain and landslide risks. Authorities are conducting damage assessments and deploying rescue teams to the most severely affected areas.