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37,000 structures damaged; some areas remain flooded
By Luisa Yanez and Renato Perez. lyanez@herald.com. Posted
on Thu, Oct. 03, 2002 in The
Miami Herald
As Hurricane Lili moved out of the Caribbean, Cubans began to dry out
Wednesday from the torrential rains and flooding the storm left behind.
''What we got was a lot of rain and flooding and a lot of wind,'' said
Teresa González, who lives on the Isle of Youth.
The worst of the storm was felt Tuesday morning, González said. But
all the homes in her neighborhood were still standing Wednesday, she said.
''They all made it intact, except for maybe a few roof leaks.'' However, the
storm destroyed buildings across western Cuba, inflicting more damage than
Hurricane Isidore a week ago. Preliminary reports Wednesday said at least 3,600
homes crumbled and at least 33,400 other structures were damaged, but no one
died.
The only report of a serious injury came from the Isle of Youth, where a
person was hospitalized after a house wall fell on her.
The sun shone bright over most of Cuba Wednesday morning. Airports, schools
and businesses were reopened, though telephone service was still out in some
areas.
In the town of La Coloma in the hardest hit province of Pinar del Río,
residents on Wednesday were using small boats to get around, as floodwaters were
still chest-high.
Authorities had evacuated La Coloma and other coastal towns as the storm
approached.
''I left my house at 10 p.m. Tuesday and I still can't get inside,''
resident Mariela Hernández told the Cuban press.
''In my kitchen, the refrigerator is half-covered by water,'' said Cándida
Lazo, another resident waiting for the waters to subside.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro traveled to Pinar del Río to survey the
damage: "If the storm had crossed the country through the central or
eastern region, it would have done more damage. So far, there are no fatalities
and the effects on the economy are minor.''
Asked why he visited just after Hurricane Lili hit, Castro answered: "I
wanted to bid her goodbye and wish her a pleasant voyage.''
This report was supplemented with information from Herald wire services. | 
