*Cuba’s national electricity grid has collapsed for the second time in less than a month following the passage of Tropical Storm Rafael which hit the island yesterday. Cuban state power company Unión Eléctrica (UNE) said in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the hurricane’s strong winds “had resulted in the disconnection of the national electricity system and emergency protocols had been activated”. Yesterday the US’ National Hurricane Centre (NHC) warned of a “life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding expected in portions of western Cuba”. Writing on X today, Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel said that “a recovery process had begun and evaluation would be carried out regarding the extent of the damage”, with the provinces of Artemisa, Mayabeque, and Havana particularly affected. The blackout follows that caused by Hurricane Oscar which struck last month causing major damage to the eastern part of Cuba, particularly the province of Guantánamo, leaving eight dead and two people missing, according to a 5 November update by the United Nations System in Cuba.
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LatinNews Daily - 7 November 2024
In brief: Another nationwide blackout in Cuba as hurricane hits
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