Havana, October 4 (RHC)-- Cuban authorities are still waiting for a response from their U.S. counterparts to their offer to provide relief to the people of Puerto Rico, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that the Cuban Government has offered a field hospital and 41 health specialists -- experts in disaster relief -- to assist the victims of the storm in that Caribbean island.  According to news reports, only 1 out of every 69 medical facilities is operational on the island.

Cuba has also offered four brigades, made up of engineers and electricity experts to assist in the restoration of power lines.  Much of the island remains without power, two weeks after the storm struck.

On behalf of the Cuban people and government, Rodríguez reiterated condolences to Puerto Rico for the deaths caused by the hurricane and the huge losses in all sectors of its economy.

U.S. President Donald Trump visited the island on Tuesday.  During his brief stay he sparked controversy when he asserted that the damage inflicted by Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico was not a real catastrophe as the one caused by Hurricane Katrina, because of the low number of fatalities reported on the island.

According to Puerto Rico´s governor, the official death toll after Hurricane Maria now stands at 34.