Cuba Faces Islandwide Power Outage Again Following Hurricane Rafael
Hurricane Rafael has caused the entire island of Cuba to lose power for the second time in two weeks. The storm devastated western agricultural areas with high winds, impacting infrastructure and crops. Residents are apprehensive about recovery efforts given the government’s historical challenges. As the hurricane season progresses, there is concern over the capacity of Cuba to withstand additional severe weather events.
The entirety of Cuba has experienced a complete power outage once again, following the devastating effects of Hurricane Rafael, which struck the western agricultural regions of the island. This is the second major power loss within a two-week span, igniting memories of recent hardships among the populace. The hurricane, now downgraded as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, tore through key agricultural provinces, uprooting trees and destroying essential infrastructure. As of Thursday morning, little information was available regarding the hurricane’s impact, as residents grappled with the aftermath and its repercussions on their lives. With sustained winds reaching 185 km/h (115 mph), authorities warned of dangerous storm surges and potential flooding, which could exacerbate the already shaky infrastructure in a country home to ten million people. In Havana, citizens ventured outside to assess the damages, finding their streets comparatively dry as Rafael passed approximately 60 km west of the city. However, vital sectors like agriculture were not spared; farmers had taken precautions to safeguard around 8,000 tonnes of tobacco leaves, knowing the storm’s threat to their livelihoods. After the storm, Havana’s streets remained largely deserted, with businesses shutting their doors and transport services gradually resuming operations. Additionally, flights at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport and Varadero were halted to mitigate risk. The Cuban government, led by President Miguel Diaz-Canel, has mobilized military resources to assist in recovery efforts. Measures have been enacted to ensure the safety of citizens and protect material assets. Nevertheless, skepticism persists among the populace regarding the government’s ability to deliver essential services amid ongoing economic challenges exacerbated by strained relations with the United States and the political turmoil affecting Venezuela. Residents expressed profound distress over the situation, with accounts surfacing of people losing roofs and food supplies due to prolonged outages. Just weeks prior, the island had endured a significant blackout caused by the antiquated state of its thermoelectric power stations, followed shortly by Hurricane Oscar, which inflicted additional havoc and loss of life. Hurricane Rafael marks the 17th storm of the current hurricane season, and with forecasts predicting a continuation of severe weather, the residents of Cuba brace themselves for potential further emergencies. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has anticipated that the following hurricane season may feature above-average storm activity, predicting the formation of several major hurricanes over the next year.
Hurricane Rafael, categorized as a major hurricane at the time of its impact, underscored the vulnerability of Cuba to extreme weather events, particularly in light of the island’s aging infrastructure and economic hurdles. The gradual deterioration of power generation facilities in Cuba has made the nation particularly susceptible to widespread blackouts following hurricanes. Historically, Cuba faces numerous challenges during hurricane season, with the recent storms highlighting structural deficiencies and the need for robust emergency preparedness and recovery measures. Early predictions regarding the 2024 hurricane season indicate higher-than-normal storm activity, which raises concerns for the future resiliency of Cuba in the face of climate-related disasters.
In summary, Hurricane Rafael has left the entire island of Cuba without power for the second occasion within a mere fortnight, prompting distress among residents already troubled by previous outages and economic instability. The government’s response, though assertive, has faced skepticism due to historical inadequacies in disaster response. Moving forward, Cuba’s readiness for future hurricanes will be critical as weather forecasts predict an active hurricane season ahead.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
