Cuba Struggles to Overcome Nationwide Blackout Following Hurricane Rafael

The island faces significant recovery challenges as residents navigate the aftermath of severe flooding and widespread power outages.

Cuba is grappling with the repercussions of a nationwide blackout triggered by Hurricane Rafael, which struck the island on Wednesday with winds reaching up to 185km/h (115mph). President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced that officials are working to restore power after the electricity system was shut down for the second time in recent weeks. The storm led to the evacuation of at least 70,000 residents from vulnerable areas amid warnings of potential storm surges, flash flooding, and mudslides. Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities.

Díaz-Canel revealed that provinces including Artemisa, Mayabeque, and the capital city, Havana, suffered significant damage. "Every step from this point forward is geared towards recovery. Together we will do it," he stated, highlighting the unity required for the rebuilding efforts ahead. With widespread flooding impacting the western regions of the country, the recovery process is complicated by the fact that most of Cuba's 10 million residents remain without electricity.

In the streets of Havana, residents are resorting to basic tools like shovels and brooms to clear away mud, debris, and household waste. Major infrastructure has also been affected, with fallen electricity pylons littering the roads. One resident from Artemisa, Elias Perez, described the dire situation, saying people are resorting to make-shift cooking methods as they deal with prolonged outages. "If you don't have gas, you have to improvise with coal," he explained, reflecting on the struggles many face in this ongoing crisis. "It's a mess, but we have to keep going."

Last month, a similar blackout left millions in darkness for four days after failures in the country’s aging energy infrastructure, coinciding with Hurricane Oscar, which had also wreaked havoc on the northeastern coast. As residents like Natalia Martinez from Artemisa noted, "We know how to survive; we're in the dark all the time, you know." Despite the challenges ahead, the resilience of the Cuban people remains a focal point in the recovery or reconstruction ahead.