Hurricane Rafael made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday as a powerful Category 3 hurricane after leaving the island without electricity. Thousands of people were evacuated from high-risk areas, while classes and transportation were suspended.
PUBLICIDAD
The storm, which left the Cayman Islands and Jamaica without electricity and caused rain, passed through the Isle of Youth and was expected to make landfall in the coming hours of Wednesday. Authorities announced that the hurricane's strong winds left the country without electricity on Wednesday.
PUBLICIDAD
Official figures indicated that, due to being in high-risk areas, between Tuesday and Wednesday, 50,000 people had to be evacuated in La Habana, another 11,000 in Sancti Spiritus, and another 13,000 in Villa Clara. Additionally, authorities reported that the water levels in the reservoirs are being monitored and the rising of the Zaza River is being observed.
This is another blow for Cuba, which is dealing with blackouts while facing the aftermath of Oscar, another hurricane that passed two weeks ago and left at least eight dead in the eastern part of the island.
In Pinar del Río, Isla de la Juventud, and Mayabeque, there was also an evacuation of people and their belongings. Meanwhile, in the tourist destination of Cayo Largo del Sur, 758 vacationers and workers were evacuated.
In the capital, Havana, and several provinces, public transportation and classes were suspended, as well as many work activities. Crews of employees were collecting garbage and other obstructive materials from the Malecón in the capital and several low-lying areas, in anticipation of flooding; while also securing roofs, windows, boats, and all kinds of property that could be affected.
Throughout the day, heavy rain showers began to fall and the wind was hitting the trees strongly.
Authorities also canceled flights at major airports such as Havana and Varadero.
"This is a night when I don't sleep, between the blowing wind, the trees..." said Silvia Pérez, a 72-year-old retiree who lives in the Vedado neighborhood, located next to the coast, to The Associated Press. "I'm afraid for my acquaintances and family. I hope this November passes," referring to the hurricane season.
Like many neighbors, Pérez collected water and stored some food, as confirmed by the AP during a tour.
"We have had a bad experience, look at the mark of how high the water rose," said Yeni Cabrales, 41, who lives with five children, while pointing towards the wall of her porch, at a height of over half a meter. A block away, Cabrales' mother removed furniture and appliances from her ground floor apartment.
According to the Cuban Meteorology Institute and the National Hurricane Center of the United States (NHC), Rafael will bring strong winds and storm surges to the central and western south coast of the Caribbean nation with moderate to strong coastal flooding.
The Civil Defense of Cuba decreed the alarm phase, which means that people must take maximum precautions, for the provinces of Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Artemisa, and Pinar del Río, as well as for the Isle of Youth and the Canarreos Archipelago.
Hurricane Rafael will arrive in Cuba under complex circumstances: a trough brought a lot of water to the eastern part of the country last week, especially to Guantánamo, where a previous cyclone, Oscar, had already made landfall on October 20. The aftermath left eight dead and affected over 150,000 people, as well as causing destruction to roads, bridges, and homes. It also damaged coffee crops, one of the most important in the area.
With Hurricane Oscar, the municipalities to the east of the island, Baracoa, Imías, Maisí, and San Antonio Sur, were the most affected.
The imminent arrival of Rafael adds to the weakness of the national energy system that collapsed in the middle of last month, leaving a historic island-wide blackout for several days and a severe economic crisis with fuel shortages, lack of water, and inflation.
After noon, the NHC reported that it was located 80 kilometers northeast of the Isle of Youth and about 110 kilometers from Havana with sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour and a translation speed of 22 kilometers per hour.
Rafael left Jamaica without electricity on Tuesday and caused flooding and landslides.
Jamaica's Public Service, the island's electricity provider, said in a statement on Tuesday night that impassable roads were preventing crews from restoring power in some areas.
The forecasts also indicate heavy rains that would extend northwards reaching Florida and areas near the southeastern region of the United States for the rest of the week.