37,000 structures damaged; some areas remain flooded

  BY LUISA YANEZ AND RENATO PEREZ

  As Hurricane Lili moved out of the Caribbean, Cubans began to dry out Wednesday from the torrential rains and flooding the storm left behind.

  ''What we got was a lot of rain and flooding and a lot of wind,'' said Teresa González, who lives on the Isle of Youth.

  The worst of the storm was felt Tuesday morning, González said. But all the homes in her neighborhood were still standing Wednesday, she said. ''They all made it
  intact, except for maybe a few roof leaks.'' However, the storm destroyed buildings across western Cuba, inflicting more damage than Hurricane Isidore a week ago. Preliminary reports Wednesday said at least 3,600 homes crumbled and at least 33,400 other structures were damaged, but no one died.

  The only report of a serious injury came from the Isle of Youth, where a person was hospitalized after a house wall fell on her.

  The sun shone bright over most of Cuba Wednesday morning. Airports, schools and businesses were reopened, though telephone service was still out in some areas.

  In the town of La Coloma in the hardest hit province of Pinar del Río, residents on Wednesday were using small boats to get around, as floodwaters were still chest-high.

  Authorities had evacuated La Coloma and other coastal towns as the storm approached.

  ''I left my house at 10 p.m. Tuesday and I still can't get inside,'' resident Mariela Hernández told the Cuban press.

  ''In my kitchen, the refrigerator is half-covered by water,'' said Cándida Lazo, another resident waiting for the waters to subside.

  Cuban leader Fidel Castro traveled to Pinar del Río to survey the damage: ``If the storm had crossed the country through the central or eastern region, it would have done more damage. So far, there are no fatalities and the effects on the economy are minor.''

  Asked why he visited just after Hurricane Lili hit, Castro answered: ``I wanted to bid her goodbye and wish her a pleasant voyage.''

  This report was supplemented with information from Herald wire services.