Havana - The Council of Ministers of Cuba held on Monday morning an emergency meeting to assess damages caused by an unusual intense tornado, associated to an off-season storm that battered Havana with an initial toll of 3 dead, 172 wounded and huge material damage. Parliament regrets loss of human lives.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel reported through his Twitter account, @DiazCanelB, contingency measures were immediately taken to speed up recovery.

The municipalities of Regla, Guanabacoa, San Miguel and 10 de Octubre were mostly hit by the tornado after 21:00 local time on Sunday night. Diaz-Canel visited neighborhoods to learn firsthand about the damage. He was the first to report from Regla, the most severely hit municipality, there were 3 dead and 172 wounded.

The Head of State, provincial and local authorities visited the zones to offer assistance and sympathy to the people. Houses, public buildings, shops and local hospitals were hardly battered.

The strong winds tumbled trees, electric poles and telecommunications antennas demolished roofs, turned over vehicles, while heavy rain flooded areas of the city and the strong wind caused the sea to overflow low-lying areas.

The severe winter storm also hit the western provinces of Mayabeque and Pinar del Rio.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly issued through Twitter a message of sympathy with the people damaged by the tornado, expressing condolence to families and friends of victims.

For his part, First Vice President Salvador Valdes wrote in social media that 'no Cuban in need will be left out without help.'