Cuba Faces National Blackout as Hurricane Rafael Strikes

Residents across Cuba woke up to a widespread blackout on Wednesday after Hurricane Rafael unleashed devastating winds of up to 185 km/h (115 mph), severely impacting the country's electrical infrastructure. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that restoration operations had commenced, emphasizing the need for collective recovery efforts. The hurricane prompted the evacuation of approximately 70,000 individuals ahead of landfall, with warnings regarding dangerous storm surges, flash floods, and potential mudslides. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported thus far. The capital city, Havana, along with the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque, experienced significant damages. President Díaz-Canel voiced his commitment to rebuild, stating, "Every step from this point forward is geared towards recovery. Together we will do it." As efforts to recover commenced, residents in Havana were observed using makeshift tools such as shovels, brooms, and buckets to clear debris from their homes and streets. The storm left behind fallen electricity pylons along major routes, while towns were littered with tree branches and wreckage. Many residents voiced their struggles in coping with the power cuts. Artemisa resident Elias Perez indicated that families were forced to "improvise" in their daily activities. "If you don't have gas, you have to improvise with coal," he explained, highlighting the challenges of cooking and heating. His neighbor Natalia Martinez reflected on the resilience of the people, stating, "We know how to survive, we're in the dark all the time, you know." This recent blackout follows a previous nationwide power outage experienced last month, during which millions were left without electricity for four days after infrastructural weaknesses in Cuba were exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Oscar, a less powerful storm that also wrought chaos.