HAVANA, November 5 (Fara Armenteros, UPECI / CubaNet) - Close to 170
collapsed buildings, dozens of downed power lines, thousands of families without
drinking water or fuel to cook, and 114,000 evacuees are some of the effects of
hurricane Michelle in the Cuban capital.
Water, gas, and electrical service have been out since midday Sunday and
public transportation is not running.
The Ministry of Internal Commerce did not make available any additional
supplies, such as fuel, candles, or food, for purchase in the face of the
disaster.
Sunday morning, the dollar stores and the agricultural markets opened for
business, but prices at those establishments are beyond the means of the
majority of the population.
In some areas of the city, the daily bread ration was not sold on Sunday and
Monday.
Strong wind gusts left streets littered with debris and tree branches. "If
the eye of the hurricane had gone over the city, more than half the buildings
would have gone down. 70 percent of the housing in Old Havana is in very bad
shape," speculated one resident.
Versión
original en español
CubaNet does not require sole rights from its
contributors. We authorize the reproduction and distribution of this article as
long as the source is credited.
| 
