- Nationwide blackout across Cuba as Hurricane Rafael hits
- At least 70,000 people were evacuated from their homes
- By 22:00, the storm had weakened to a category two hurricane
Nationwide blackout across Cuba as Hurricane Rafael hits
Hurricane Rafael has left Cuba in a nationwide blackout after making landfall on Wednesday with winds reaching up to 185 km/h (115 mph). The powerful storm caused a complete shutdown of the country’s electricity grid, with the national energy company, Unión Eléctrica, reporting that the storm’s strong winds were to blame.
At least 70,000 people were evacuated from their homes as the category three storm approached, bringing warnings of storm surges, flash flooding, and mudslides. Rafael made landfall in western Cuba, near the capital Havana, at around 16:15 local time. By 22:00, the storm had weakened to a category two hurricane with winds of 169 km/h and moved into the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm has caused widespread disruption just weeks after a major blackout in Cuba left millions without power for four days. That incident was linked to the island’s ageing energy infrastructure and coincided with Hurricane Oscar, which killed at least six people.
Heavy rain continues to fall across western Cuba, and storm surges remain a threat. The Cayman Islands and the Florida Keys are also experiencing severe weather, with the latter under a tropical storm warning.