For the second time in two weeks, the entire island of Cuba has lost power as Hurricane Rafael swept across its western regions, causing severe damage to farmlands, downing power lines, and destroying crops. With winds reaching 185 km/h (115 mph), the Category 3 storm brought life-threatening conditions, including flash floods and storm surges, particularly affecting the tobacco-growing areas in Artemisa and Pinar del Rio provinces.
In Havana, residents ventured out to assess the damage, though most businesses, schools, and airports remained closed on Thursday. The government has mobilized military forces to aid in recovery efforts, but many Cubans, struggling with unreliable infrastructure and economic challenges, are frustrated by repeated outages and storm damage. Just two weeks earlier, the island experienced a similar blackout and then Hurricane Oscar, which killed six people in eastern Cuba.
The 2024 hurricane season has been exceptionally active, with Hurricane Rafael marking the 17th named storm, in line with predictions for an above-average season.
