Cuba is grappling with a widespread blackout as Hurricane Rafael unleashes powerful winds of up to 185 km/h (115 mph) across the island. This severe weather event has prompted the national energy company to announce a complete shutdown of the electricity system due to the hurricane’s intensity. With emergency protocols now activated, the country faces significant challenges.
The category-three hurricane made landfall on Wednesday evening in the western province of Artemisa, close to Havana. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns of potential storm surges, flash flooding, and mudslides resulting from this powerful storm.
According to local reports, over 70,000 residents were evacuated in anticipation of Rafael’s arrival. The NHC predicts that western Cuba will experience heavy rainfall through Thursday, posing life-threatening conditions due to possible storm surges.
Just weeks before this incident, millions of Cubans endured a four-day blackout attributed to issues within the country’s aging energy infrastructure. This previous outage coincided tragically with Hurricane Oscar, which resulted in at least six fatalities.
While Rafael is expected to weaken slightly as it traverses the island, forecasts indicate it will still retain hurricane status upon entering the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, heavy rains are anticipated in the Cayman Islands, and tropical storm warnings have been issued for the Florida Keys.
Recent history shows that Cuba’s power grid has struggled under pressure. Last month alone, around 10 million people lost electricity due to maintenance failures and fuel shortages at power stations—a crisis exacerbated by Hurricane Oscar’s impact on the northeastern coast. The eastern province of Guantánamo suffered significant damage, with over 1,000 homes impacted by extreme weather conditions.
Despite these challenges, some individuals remain unfazed by Rafael’s approach. British tourist Klara Kszczotek expressed a sense of calm amid the chaos. She noted that her group is staying informed through news updates and feels prepared for whatever may come next.
As Cuba navigates these turbulent waters brought on by Hurricane Rafael and its ongoing energy crises, the resilience of its people will be put to the test once more. The situation underscores a critical need for systemic improvements within the nation’s infrastructure to better withstand future natural disasters.
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