The coastal regions of Cajío, Guanímar, and Majana in Artemisa province remain submerged three days after Hurricane Rafael swept through this western Cuban area. Images released by the state-run media outlet Cubadebate illustrate the severe conditions in these communities, which bore the full force of the hurricane.
The media reports that "water levels have not fully receded, and downed power lines litter the roads." Furthermore, the local channels overflowed, inundating the roads as seawater surged inland. Residents and visible watermarks on homes indicate that water levels rose approximately two meters.
Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Playa Majana, located south of Artemisa, as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, November 6. The hurricane's winds later diminished to 175 km/h, categorizing it as a Category 2 storm. Its passage through Cuba caused extensive damage to housing infrastructure, agriculture, and both electrical and telephone networks.
In addition to the widespread destruction, Rafael inflicted considerable damage on several hospitals within Artemisa province. The hurricane exited Cuba as a Category 2 storm around 7:00 p.m. on that same Wednesday, crossing through the Bahía de Cabañas area in Artemisa.