Cuba Assesses Damage Caused by Hurricane Rafael
Houses destroyed by Hurricane Rafael, Cuba, Nov. 6, 2024. X/ @l_proveyer
November 7, 2024 Hour: 8:01 am
It caused major damage, particularly in the provinces of Artemisa, Mayabeque, and Havana.
On Wednesday night, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and the National Defense Council met to assess the damage caused by Rafael, a Category 3 hurricane that passed through the western part of the island, leaving significant impacts on homes, infrastructure, and crops.
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The cyclone made landfall at 4:20 p.m. local time along the southern coast of the province of Artemisa and exited Cuban territory more than two hours later through the northern coast of Pinar del Río. Cuba’s Meteorological Institute (Insmet) measured winds of up to 115 miles per hour (185 kilometers per hour) and recorded intense rainfall of up to 7.87 inches (200 millimeters).
President Diaz-Canel confirmed that Hurricane Rafael caused major damage, particularly in the provinces of Artemisa, Mayabeque, and Havana.
“Every step from this point on is directed toward recovery. Together, we will get it done,” said Diaz-Canel, noting that he contacted the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) first secretaries in those areas.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, he plans to tour those regions “to obtain more precise assessments on the ground. A new recovery process is already beginning.”
Currently, Cuban authorities are working to restore the National Electric System, which was disconnected due to the strong winds caused by the cyclone.
“Efforts are underway to create electrical subsystems in central and eastern Cuba. This process will take longer; it requires inspections of power lines and necessary electrical installations. It’s a protocol that takes time,” explained the Ministry of Energy.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: EFE – PL
