Cuban military divers used inflatable rafts to rescue hundreds of people from flooded homes in Havana in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma.
But there were no immediate reports of deaths or major injuries on the island. Nearly 700,000 people were evacuated in west Cuba in recent days as Wilma approached, the official National Information Agency said yesterday.
Military divers in wetsuits, masks and fins escorted small groups of people in black inflatable rafts with outboard motors. Once they reached higher areas with less water, those rescued were taken away for medical attention.
The extent of the flooding seen after Wilma's assault was highly unusual and reportedly occurs only when hurricanes pass along Cuba's northern coast. The waters were expected to begin slowly receding this morning.
Flooding and high winds caused heavy damage to homes elsewhere along the northern coastal, including the northern coastal community of Baracoa, just east of Havana.
The government shut off electricity throughout Havana and the island's western region before dawn in a standard safety precaution. Power remained out in most of the capital at mid-afternoon.
PA