A devastating hurricane hit many regions in Cuba on Wednesday, November 6 resulting in the closure of schools, disruption of transportation and collapse of the nation’s power grid.
The hurricane aptly named ‘Hurricane Rafael’ brought about sustained winds moving at a speed of 115 miles per hour (mph) approximately 185 kilometres per hour (kph), destroying trees and electric poles on it’s path.
Cuba’s state-owned grid operator, Electrical Union (UNE), reported that the strong winds had led to a complete failure of the country’s power grid.
Radio and television stations across Cuba also confirmed that all 10 million residents in the nation were without electricity, marking the second such power outage in the country in less than a month.
Police vehicles with loudspeakers began patrolling central areas, urging residents to stay indoors and take shelter ahead of the approaching storm.
Schools and public transportation in the city were halted indefinitely and authorities canceled flights at both Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport and the popular beach resort of Varadero, Cuba, until Thursday, November 7.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, United States (US) had earlier issued a warning about the Hurricane affecting parts of Cuba and urged people to evacuate the affected area so as to prevent their lives from danger.
The farming provinces of Artemisa and Pinar del Río, known for producing the premium tobacco used in Cuba’s renowned hand-rolled cigars, were expected to bear the brunt of the storm as Rafael made landfall on the island.
Agriculture Minister Ydael Pérez Brito said that farmers had taken measures to protect 8,000 metric tons of tobacco, along with ripening fruits and vegetables in the region.
Havana which is home to 2 million people, is particularly at risk from hurricanes and flooding due to its outdated, overcrowded housing and aging infrastructure.
The timing of the hurricane was particularly unfortunate for the Communist-led island, which had just experienced a complete failure of its national electric grid last month, leaving the country without power for several days.
The hurricane is yet another setback for the country’s already fragile grid and infrastructure.
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