In brief
Hurricane Rafael has led to a nationwide power outage in Cuba, prompting officials to prioritize restoration efforts as the country navigates the aftermath of severe weather conditions.
The recent impacts of Hurricane Rafael have plunged Cuba into darkness, as the hurricane's ferocious winds of up to 185 km/h (115 mph) caused a complete shutdown of the electricity system, marking the second such incident for the country in just a few weeks. President Miguel Díaz-Canel conveyed that the government has commenced efforts to restore power and is committed to recovery, especially in the heavily affected provinces, including Artemisa, Mayabeque, and the capital, Havana.In preparation for the storm, around 70,000 individuals were evacuated from their homes. Despite the severity of the hurricane, no fatalities have been reported. Nevertheless, substantial damage has been inflicted; heavy rainfall and strong winds have resulted in widespread flooding and destruction across several regions. As many residents of Cuba’s 10 million population endure the blackout, they are faced with significant challenges, including clearing debris from their homes.Residents in the Havana area, armed with shovels and brooms, worked diligently to remove mud, branches, and rubbish to assess the extent of the damage. Fallen electricity pylons littered the route from Havana to Artemisa, while surrounding towns were left scattered with debris. Many of those affected expressed their need to adapt to the new reality; one resident remarked, “If you don’t have gas, you have to improvise with coal.” This recent blackout follows last month's four-day outage, attributed to failures in the outdated energy infrastructure, which coincided with Hurricane Oscar. The resilience of Cubans shines through as they adapt to the ongoing challenges, with one resident stating, "We know how to survive; we're in the dark all the time."
