Power Partly Restored In Cuba After Hurricane Rafael

AFP/APP

Havana: Power was partially restored across Cuba on Thursday, a day after Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm, swept across the island, leaving nearly 10 million people without electricity for the second time in just a month.

Rafael tore through the country, ripping off roofs from homes and damaging infrastructure, including bleachers at a baseball stadium. It also caused a nationwide blackout, adding to the difficulties already faced by the island, which had suffered a power failure just two weeks ago due to a malfunction at a major power plant, leaving the country in darkness for four days.

While there have been no reports of fatalities, the storm caused significant damage. Nearly 250,000 people were evacuated ahead of the hurricane’s landfall, according to authorities.

The Cuban government reported that power had been restored by Thursday afternoon in areas from the center to the east of the island.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the hardest-hit provinces of Havana, Artemisa, and Mayabeque, where large-scale damage was reported, including the destruction of plantain and yucca crops. In Havana, 461 buildings were either partially or fully collapsed.

Residents were seen clearing debris from the streets with brooms, shovels, and buckets as recovery efforts continued.

Though the immediate danger has passed, the extensive damage is expected to take time to repair, and the country remains on high alert as it continues to recover from yet another major storm.