OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Hurricane Wilma - The Caribbean
26 October 2005


Situation

The following report is based on information provided by the UN Resident 
Coordinator's Office in Cuba and Mexico, the Regional Disaster Response 
Advisor Office in Panama as well as the national emergency management 
agencies in both countries.

Cuba

1. During the last 10 days, Cuba has been affected by hurricane Wilma. 
Almost 24 hours after the hurricane's exit from Cuban waters, recovery 
actions are still underway, mainly in western Cuba.

2. Most affected provinces include Pinar del Rio, La Habana and Ciudad 
Habana as well as the Isle of Youth. Damages were also recorded in 
eastern provinces such as Granma, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo. Other 
provinces such as Matanzas, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara and Cienfuegos, 
in central Cuba, also suffered damages, mainly to power distribution 
system.

3. Ciudad Habana is estimated to be the most impacted by Wilma, where 
the water began to reside only on 25 October afternoon. The storm not 
only flooded Havana's streets but ripped off chunks of the famous 
Malecon seawall. Buildings lining alongside the Malecon received a 
severe beating; their doors and wooden window shutters were flung as 
first floor homes flooded with water. Cars were almost completely 
submerged and only the top of the public phone booths peeked out from 
the brown waters.

4. Initial estimates report the sea penetrating 700 meters in Ciudad 
Habana directly affecting 10,000 people. Although housing will be the 
sector most affected by Wilma, no official numbers of houses destroyed 
are available. Reports confirm that families have lost mattresses, 
linen, pillows and domestic appliances.

5. The government sent amphibious vehicles and rescue squads to evacuate 
nearly 250 residents from homes throughout the city. Main efforts are 
now directed to attend affected families, particularly those who lost 
their homes and personal belongings. Most evacuees, who did not lose or 
suffer serious impact to their homes, have returned home.

6. The government will present a needs assessment on 26 October. The 
most urgent needs up to now are blankets, plastic sheets and kitchen 
kits.

Mexico

7. Cancun's airport remains closed and it is unclear when it would 
reopen. The road to the nearest airport in Merida is impassable. It is 
not clear how many tourists are stranded.

8. On 25 October, the Mexican Red Cross started the distributions of 
food and water supplies, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, plastic sheeting 
and mosquito nets to Cancun, Puerto Maderos, Isla Mujeres, Playa del 
Carmen and Cozumel.

International Response

9. No request for international assistance has been made by either 
Mexico or Cuba.

10. OCHA is in close contact with the United Nations Resident 
Coordinator's Offices in Cuba and Mexico, and will revert with further 
information as it becomes available.

11. For further information, please refer to the Website of the National 
Hurricane Service in Miami at www.nhc.noaa.gov, and 
www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/Gif/atl.latest.gif.

12. This situation report, together with further information on other 
ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at 
http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Ricardo Mena
    E-mail: menar@un.org, direct Tel. +41- 22- 917-1455
  Mr. Dusan Zupka
    E-mail: zupka@un.org,  direct Tel. +41-22-917 1645

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26

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