Cuba's power grid collapses as Hurricane Rafael lashes the island
Cuba’s national electrical grid collapsed on Wednesday as Hurricane Rafael slammed into the island’s southwest shore, packing sustained winds of 115 mph and wreaking havoc on the already crisis-stricken country.
HAVANA — Cuba’s national electrical grid collapsed on Wednesday as Hurricane Rafael slammed into the island’s southwest shore, packing sustained winds of 115 mph and wreaking havoc on the already crisis-stricken country.
The hurricane was churning about 60 miles west of Cuba’s capital Havana on Wednesday night, after lashing the capital city of nearly two million people with driving rain and violent wind gusts.
People pass by on the street as Hurricane Rafael passes by Havana, Cuba, on Wednesday.Alexandre Meneghini / REUTERSThe Miami-based National Hurricane Center warned of a “life-threatening storm surge, damaging hurricane-force winds and flash flooding” across much of western Cuba. The region, including Havana, remained under a hurricane warning.
Cuba’s state-run grid operator UNE said the high winds had caused the country’s electrical system to collapse. State-run television reported the entire population of 10 million people was without electricity — at least the second such incident in less than a month on the island.
Conditions had deteriorated quickly by mid-afternoon in Havana, east of the storm’s predicted track, and wind and rain had already downed trees and powerlines on city streets.
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