Hurricane Rafael triggers second nationwide blackout in weeks

[WORLD] Storm Rafael, a violent category 3 storm, hit Cuba's south-west coast, causing a nationwide power outage. Union Eléctrica, the country's national power utility, issued a brief statement on Wednesday, stating that "strong winds caused by the powerful Hurricane Rafael have caused the disconnection of the national electrical system. Contingency plans have been implemented."

As the storm approached, Cuban authorities scrambled to prepare for its impact. The Civil Defense organization mobilized emergency response teams across the affected provinces, setting up shelters and stockpiling essential supplies. Despite these efforts, the sheer intensity of Rafael overwhelmed the country's already fragile infrastructure, leaving millions without power and exacerbating existing shortages of food and fuel.

The energy and mining ministry had previously stated that a "controlled disconnection of power circuits" would be carried out to prevent accidents and power outages.

The power outage occurred soon before the storm made landfall in Cuba's western province of Artemisa, bringing with it a "life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding" according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Meteorologists at the Cuban Institute of Meteorology reported that Rafael's rapid intensification caught many by surprise. Dr. Elena Rodriguez, a senior climatologist at the institute, stated, "The storm's unexpected strengthening from a Category 2 to a Category 3 hurricane in such a short time frame posed significant challenges for our forecasting and preparedness efforts. This rapid intensification is consistent with patterns we're seeing more frequently due to warming ocean temperatures."

Wednesday's power outage and storm came three weeks after Hurricane Oscar slammed the island, causing a four-day statewide blackout due to the breakdown of the island's largest power plant and a gasoline shortage. Sporadic disruptions have persisted since then.

The interruption sparked outrage in internet forums, with many noting that Cuba's electrical infrastructure has previously weathered worse hurricanes, including the 2017 category 5 Hurricane Irma. Others reported that electricity had been off in most of the country for the previous week.

"This [announcement] is obviously for Havana, because the rest of the provinces haven't had power for days anyway," one person said.

The recurring power outages have taken a toll on Cuba's healthcare system. Dr. Carlos Fernandez, director of a hospital in Havana, described the challenges: "We're operating on backup generators, but fuel is scarce. Critical patients and those requiring constant care are at risk. The frequent blackouts have also disrupted our vaccine storage, potentially compromising our immunization programs."

Nine provinces in west and central Cuba, including the capital, Havana, have been put on cyclone alert. More than 70,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, the most of them are from Guantánamo in the east, where Hurricane Oscar killed eight last month.

The storm looked to be passing between Soroa, a little mountain town, and Las Terrazas, a settlement built as an ideal society immediately after the revolution and now classified as a Unesco biosphere reserve.

"I think no one expected to get category 3," claimed one farmer in the hurricane's path. "I don't think everyone was really ready."

The economic impact of Rafael is expected to be severe, compounding Cuba's existing financial woes. Economist Maria Sanchez from the University of Havana commented, "The damage to agriculture, particularly in the western provinces, could lead to food shortages and price hikes in the coming months. The tourism sector, which was just beginning to recover post-pandemic, will likely face another setback due to damaged infrastructure and canceled bookings."

The hurricane pummeled Havana, a city in decay, with howling winds, torrential rain, and the crash of collapsing masonry. Gusts of 115km/h (71.6mph) were recorded in the Casablanca area on the outskirts of Havana Bay.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel's office said on Tuesday that the national defense council, made up of military members, is being mobilized in response to the storm. "We have activated the national defense council to provide the maximum attention to the passage of Hurricane Rafael," Díaz-Canel said on X.

"Measures have been taken in each place to protect our people and material resources," she said. "As we have always done since the Revolution, we will overcome this situation."

Liset Herrera, 57, said she had been unable to follow the news of Rafael "because there is no electricity" in the community of Alquizar, around 30 miles (48 kilometers) south-west of Havana.

The US State Department advised people to rethink any visit to Cuba.

On Tuesday, the hurricane knocked out electricity in several regions of Jamaica, causing floods and landslides. Power outages were also reported in the Cayman Islands following a direct strike late Tuesday, and schools remained closed Wednesday.

"While conditions have improved on Grand Cayman, residents are advised to exercise extreme caution on the roads and near coastlines as rough seas and residual flooding risks may persist," according to a release from the government.

Forecasters expected Rafael to weaken as it traveled northward toward the US Gulf Coast, but it was still expected to produce significant rainfall to Florida and other portions of the southeast US by the end of the week. The National Hurricane Center forecast that storm surges in Florida might reach 1-3 feet in the Dry Tortugas and 1-2 feet in the lower Florida Keys.