Cuba has been plunged into darkness once again, experiencing a nationwide blackout following the arrival of Hurricane Rafael. This latest power outage comes just three weeks after the island endured a four-day blackout triggered by Hurricane Oscar and the failure of Cuba’s largest power plant, coupled with fuel shortages. The current blackout, attributed to strong winds from Hurricane Rafael, has further inflamed public frustration.
Many Cubans have taken to social media expressing their anger, pointing out that the country’s power grid has weathered more powerful hurricanes in the past, including the Category 5 Hurricane Irma in 2017. One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, commented, “This [announcement] is obviously for Havana because the rest of the provinces haven’t had power for days anyway.”
The hurricane’s impact extends beyond the power outages. Nine provinces in western and central Cuba, including the capital Havana, are under cyclone alert. Over 70,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. In Guantanamo, at least eight people were killed by Hurricane Oscar last month. The office of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced the activation of the national defense council, comprised of military personnel, to address the storm’s impact. “We have activated the national defense council to provide the maximum attention to the passage of Hurricane Rafael,” Diaz-Canel stated on X. “Measures have been taken in each place to protect our people and material resources. As we have always done since the Revolution, we will overcome this situation.”
The US Department of State has urged its citizens to reconsider any travel to Cuba. The storm has also caused disruption across the Caribbean, with Jamaica experiencing flooding and landslides. The Cayman Islands were also hit directly by the storm, leading to power outages and the closure of schools. The government issued a statement advising residents to exercise caution due to rough seas and potential flooding risks.
As Cuba grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael, the country faces the challenging task of restoring power and infrastructure while dealing with the widespread damage caused by consecutive storms. The ongoing power outages serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of the island nation to natural disasters.
