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Catastrophe

Deadly tornado tears through Cuba

January 28, 2019

Three people have been killed and 172 injured after a tornado struck the capital Havana. Although the extent of the damage is not yet known, the Cuban president has described it as "severe."

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Debris from Havana tornado
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Roque

At least three people have been killed and 172 injured after a tornado swept the Cuban capital of Havana Sunday night.

Although the extent of damage is not yet known, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has described it as "severe." He toured the city in the aftermath of the disaster with emergency crews and took to Twitter to share pictures of overturned vehicles and rescue teams at work.

"As of now we mourn the loss of three human lives and 172 injured people are receiving aid," Diaz-Canel wrote.

The tornado struck western Cuba with winds of up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour. AFP photographers reported seeing parts of a balcony torn off an old building.

An electricity pole leans over the debris-covered street in La Havana
Pylons were torn down during the powerful tornadoImage: Getty Images/AFP/A. Roque

According to one Havana resident, "a large part of Havana is without electricity. The hospitals are saturated." Photos show cars missing panels, hollowed out buildings and debris littered throughout the streets.

Rescue efforts are underway, and teams are working to restore power to blacked-out areas.

nn/ng (AFP, dpa)