Antilla Town Brought Down by Ike Hurricane

Text and Photos: Amauris Betancourt.
amauris@radioangulo.icrt.cu

Antilla, Holguin.- the smallest and less inhabited municipality in Holguin province, was almost totally razed by Ike hurricane's strong winds.Antilla, bathed by Nipe Bay, the biggest bag bay in the world, was founded in 1906 when Mr. Van Horne, administrator of Cuba's Railroad Company, settled down there.
Its houses, for the most part wooden made after US southern arquitectural style, were majestic and strong, but they have been severely worn out by time.
The town's 3040 houses could not do much off to face the strong Ike hurricane that caused partial or total damages in 3025 of its dwellings.

But Antilla is recovering and its dwellers are recycling part of the survived materials as they wait for the Government's supplies distributed gradually with all the necessary building materials for the houses' reconstruction.In spite of all that people from Antilla keep up their pride, optimism and happiness prevails on the streets, what could be felt by the warm welcome given to the artistic brigade that is touring the areas pattered by Ike.

Something curious: Ike hurricane hit Antilla by accident 400 years after the discovery, according to the legend, of the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre by three fishermen who found Cuba's Saint, in the waters of Nipe Bay. A school in Antilla had several damages in its books.