In brief
Power restoration efforts are in full swing in Cuba following a widespread blackout triggered by Hurricane Rafael, which brought destructive winds and severe flooding.
Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Rafael, officials in Cuba are working diligently to restore power across the nation after a widespread blackout occurred on Wednesday. President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Hurricane Rafael, with winds reaching up to 185 km/h (115 mph), caused the failure of the country’s electricity system for the second time in a matter of weeks. Before the storm made landfall, authorities evacuated at least 70,000 residents amid warnings of extensive storm surges, hazardous flash flooding, and potential mudslides. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported. In the aftermath, Díaz-Canel highlighted that the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque, along with the capital Havana, experienced significant damage. He stated, “Every step from this point forward is geared towards recovery. Together we will do it.”Western regions of Cuba have been particularly hard hit, facing severe flooding and destruction of properties due to the hurricane. As of Thursday, most of Cuba’s population of around 10 million remains without electricity. Residents in Havana have begun the painful process of cleaning their neighborhoods, using shovels and buckets to remove debris and assess the extent of damage.Along the route from the capital to Artemisa, fallen electricity pylons have become a common sight, with numerous towns covered in branches and wreckage. Local resident Elias Perez shared how families are adapting to the power outages by turning to makeshift solutions. “If you don’t have gas, you have to improvise with coal. It’s a mess, but we have to keep going,” he said.This recent blackout comes on the heels of a significant power failure that occurred the previous month, which left millions of Cubans in darkness for four days, following issues with the aging energy infrastructure. That blackout coincided with Hurricane Oscar, a less powerful Category 1 storm that also caused destruction on the island's northeastern coast. Artemisa’s Natalia Martinez expressed resilience amid adversity, stating, “We know how to survive; we’re in the dark all the time, you know.”
