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CNN Live At Daybreak
Lili Devastates Cuban Seaside Towns
Aired October 03, 2002 - 06:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hurricane Lili's winds already are being felt along the Louisiana coast, after ravaging several seaside towns in western Cuba. It uprooted trees, flooded streets and caused many to lose almost everything.
CNN's Lucia Newman tells us all about that, beginning in Los Coloma, Cuba.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Martha Herrera (ph) makes signs at a Cuban government helicopter flying over Las Guanas to assess the situation after Hurricane Lili. The sight isn't pretty.
(on camera): The last hurricane that passed through here, which was less than two weeks ago, caused extensive damage. But this last hurricane, Lili, was much worse, because it destroyed absolutely everything that was left in this small fishing village.
(voice-over): Martha Herrera (ph) and her brother had lost their home with the previous hurricane, and moved in with a relative, only to see that house disappear overnight.
"My brother-in-law is looking in the nearby bush to see if he can find some of his son's clothes. He lost everything, too."
The damage is so extensive, it's likely the whole village will have to be rebuilt or moved elsewhere. Floodwaters on the road to the nearby town of Lakaloma (ph) was so high, we had to hitch a ride on a truck to get in.
There, the streets have become rivers. And while small children amuse themselves trying to catch fish, which the sea brought in to their front yards, the adults tried desperately to salvage what they can, even when there is nothing.
"Here, we are all that's left. Thank god, nothing more," says Gioneski Morales (ph).
The residents of these seaside towns on the southern coast of Pinar del Rio Province, say they've experienced lots of hurricanes, but nothing like this.
"It happened so quickly," says Louise Abaserra (ph). "When we ran for safety, all we could see was water, water and more water, covering everything inside of the house." For now, there is no drinking water, no electricity and little to eat.
While they wait for the government to come and offer them a solution, many, like this man, give thanks that at least he and his family are alive.
Lucia Newman, CNN, La Coloma, Pinar del Rio, Cuba.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired October 3, 2002 - 06:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hurricane Lili's winds already are being felt along the Louisiana coast, after ravaging several seaside towns in western Cuba. It uprooted trees, flooded streets and caused many to lose almost everything.
CNN's Lucia Newman tells us all about that, beginning in Los Coloma, Cuba.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Martha Herrera (ph) makes signs at a Cuban government helicopter flying over Las Guanas to assess the situation after Hurricane Lili. The sight isn't pretty.
(on camera): The last hurricane that passed through here, which was less than two weeks ago, caused extensive damage. But this last hurricane, Lili, was much worse, because it destroyed absolutely everything that was left in this small fishing village.
(voice-over): Martha Herrera (ph) and her brother had lost their home with the previous hurricane, and moved in with a relative, only to see that house disappear overnight.
"My brother-in-law is looking in the nearby bush to see if he can find some of his son's clothes. He lost everything, too."
The damage is so extensive, it's likely the whole village will have to be rebuilt or moved elsewhere. Floodwaters on the road to the nearby town of Lakaloma (ph) was so high, we had to hitch a ride on a truck to get in.
There, the streets have become rivers. And while small children amuse themselves trying to catch fish, which the sea brought in to their front yards, the adults tried desperately to salvage what they can, even when there is nothing.
"Here, we are all that's left. Thank god, nothing more," says Gioneski Morales (ph).
The residents of these seaside towns on the southern coast of Pinar del Rio Province, say they've experienced lots of hurricanes, but nothing like this.
"It happened so quickly," says Louise Abaserra (ph). "When we ran for safety, all we could see was water, water and more water, covering everything inside of the house." For now, there is no drinking water, no electricity and little to eat.
While they wait for the government to come and offer them a solution, many, like this man, give thanks that at least he and his family are alive.
Lucia Newman, CNN, La Coloma, Pinar del Rio, Cuba.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
