In brief
The hurricane has caused a total power outage across Cuba, triggered by strong winds and severe weather conditions.
Cuba found itself plunged into darkness as Hurricane Rafael wreaked havoc on the island, delivering winds reaching 185 km/h (115 mph). The national energy company announced that the severe weather led to the complete shutdown of the electricity system, prompting the activation of emergency measures. Making landfall on Wednesday evening, the category-three hurricane struck the western province of Artemisa, near the capital, Havana, at approximately 16:15 local time (21:15 GMT). Local media reported that over 70,000 residents were evacuated from high-risk areas in preparation for Rafael’s arrival. According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm is predicted to bring significant rain, flash floods, and life-threatening storm surges across western Cuba through Thursday. Although meteorological forecasts suggest a slight weakening of the hurricane as it traverses the island, it is anticipated to maintain hurricane status upon entering the Gulf of Mexico.The destructive power of Rafael comes on the heels of a previous incident where around 10 million Cubans experienced a four-day power outage due to maintenance failures and insufficient fuel at power stations. This earlier blackout coincided with Hurricane Oscar, which had seen at least six fatalities. Among the hardest-hit by previous storms was the eastern province of Guantánamo, where extensive damage was reported. Despite the catastrophic scenario, some residents appear unphased. British tourist Klara Kszczotek expressed her confidence in the preparedness of authorities, indicating she is currently not worried about the impact of Hurricane Rafael as updates are closely monitored.
