Hurricane Rafael Hits Cuba: A Catastrophe in the Dark
On Wednesday afternoon, Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm, made landfall west of Havana, leaving the island in darkness due to the collapse of its electrical system. With wind gusts exceeding 185 km/h, the hurricane has severely impacted the region, reports from AFP and Agerpres confirmed on Thursday.
Electricity System Failure
The national electricity company, UNE, announced that violent winds from Hurricane Rafael led to disconnection from the national electricity system. The storm’s intensity and the subsequent system failure have left Cuba without power, causing significant distress across the region.
Landfall and Impact
According to the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Rafael made landfall in the Cuban province of Artemisa, which lies west of Havana. The hurricane brought with it a wind intensity of nearly 185km/h, as per a bulletin issued by the NHC at 21:15 GMT (16:15 local time).
On The Ground Report
Images captured by AFP journalists in Pueblo Candelaria, a town of about 20,000 people located 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Havana, showed deserted streets swept by strong gusty winds and accompanied by rain.
Previous Outages and Hurricanes
Cuba had already suffered a major power outage two weeks ago that lasted four days. Moreover, the island was affected by the passage of Hurricane Oscar, which claimed the lives of eight people.
In conclusion, the successive natural disasters and power failures have dealt a significant blow to the island nation, causing extensive damage and loss of life.
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Editor: A.P.
