This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/world/americas/havana-cuba-tornado.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Tornado Strikes Havana, Killing at Least 3 Tornado Strikes Havana, Killing at Least 3
(35 minutes later)
HAVANA — A tornado ripped through eastern Havana late Sunday and early Monday, killing three people, injuring 174 others and battering the capital with powerful winds and heavy rains.HAVANA — A tornado ripped through eastern Havana late Sunday and early Monday, killing three people, injuring 174 others and battering the capital with powerful winds and heavy rains.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez announced the toll on Twitter, along with photographs of himself and rescue workers next to what appeared to be an overturned vehicle. Little information about the storm appeared in the state media.President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez announced the toll on Twitter, along with photographs of himself and rescue workers next to what appeared to be an overturned vehicle. Little information about the storm appeared in the state media.
Photos posted on Twitter by Cuban news outlets and Havana residents showed cars crushed by fallen lampposts and cars trapped in floodwaters. Photos posted on Twitter by Cuban news outlets and Havana residents showed cars crushed by fallen lampposts and other trapped in floodwaters.
Leanys Calvo, a restaurant cook in the 10th of October borough, was working Sunday night when she heard a rumbling noise and then saw “something that touched down, and then took off again. It was like a tower.” She said it was red and green, adding that “it was here for 2-3 seconds, nothing more. They were the most frightening seconds of my life.”Leanys Calvo, a restaurant cook in the 10th of October borough, was working Sunday night when she heard a rumbling noise and then saw “something that touched down, and then took off again. It was like a tower.” She said it was red and green, adding that “it was here for 2-3 seconds, nothing more. They were the most frightening seconds of my life.”
There was a blackout in many Havana neighborhoods starting around 9 p.m. One local radio station said on Twitter that the neighborhoods of Regla and 10th of October, and the town of San Miguel de Padrón, had been affected by the tornado.There was a blackout in many Havana neighborhoods starting around 9 p.m. One local radio station said on Twitter that the neighborhoods of Regla and 10th of October, and the town of San Miguel de Padrón, had been affected by the tornado.
Power poles in the 10th of October area were knocked over or were leaning precariously early Monday, held up only by their electrical lines. A palm tree more than 30 feet tall had crushed a decades-old American car. Power poles in the 10th of October area were knocked over or were leaning precariously early Monday, held up only by their electrical lines. A palm tree more than 30 feet tall had crushed a decades-old vehicle.
Metal sheeting was ripped off the roofs of buildings, with deadly shards thrust into the air, and the streets were littered with bricks that had fallen from housing facades.Metal sheeting was ripped off the roofs of buildings, with deadly shards thrust into the air, and the streets were littered with bricks that had fallen from housing facades.
Julio Menéndez, a 33-year-old restaurant worker, said the 10th of October “looks like a horror movie.”Julio Menéndez, a 33-year-old restaurant worker, said the 10th of October “looks like a horror movie.”
“From one moment to the next, we heard a noise like an airplane falling out of the sky,” said Mr. Menendez, who was home Sunday night when the tornado hit.“From one moment to the next, we heard a noise like an airplane falling out of the sky,” said Mr. Menendez, who was home Sunday night when the tornado hit.
Patients at the nearby Daughters of Galicia Hospital — all expectant mothers or mothers with newborns — were evacuated to another hospital. Many glass windows in the seven-story hospital were sucked out of their frames, leaving curtains flapping in the breeze. Patients at the nearby Daughters of Galicia Hospital — all expectant mothers or mothers with newborns — were evacuated to another hospital. Many glass windows in the seven-story building were sucked out of their frames, leaving curtains flapping in the breeze.
In the Regla area, the tornado tore the concrete roof off an apartment building and dumped it into an alleyway, briefly trapping residents in their homes.In the Regla area, the tornado tore the concrete roof off an apartment building and dumped it into an alleyway, briefly trapping residents in their homes.
Marlene Marrero García, 77, said she was in her ground-floor apartment with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when she heard electrical transformers begin to explode. “It looked like fire,” she said, “everything was red, then everything began to fall.”Marlene Marrero García, 77, said she was in her ground-floor apartment with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when she heard electrical transformers begin to explode. “It looked like fire,” she said, “everything was red, then everything began to fall.”
Ms. Marrero said she and her family were trapped by debris for about half an hour before firefighters arrived.Ms. Marrero said she and her family were trapped by debris for about half an hour before firefighters arrived.