Storm Leaves Two Dead in Havana

Two people have died as a result of torrential rains and high winds that damaged more than two dozen structures and flooded parts of Havana, local media reported Thursday.

The newspaper said the city was hit Wednesday afternoon by a line of severe thunderstorms packing winds of up to 98 kilometers (61 miles) per hour.

The victims included an 81-year-old woman who drowned in flood waters that swept parts of Old Havana, the official Communist Party newspaper Granma said.

A 24-year-old man was electrocuted by a falling powerline, the report said. The storm caused widespread power outages, the state electric power company said.

Three buildings collapsed, and 24 other structures suffered damage, Granma said.

Building collapses are not uncommon in Old Havana where housing stock is densely inhabited and in poor condition.

The city opened three shelters for people left homeless by the storm.