Cuba has experienced an islandwide power outage due to Hurricane Rafael, marking the second occurrence in two weeks. The hurricane caused significant damage to crops, infrastructure, and left many residents in distress. As the government mobilizes military resources to respond, citizens express concerns about the government’s ability to restore services amidst economic struggles. The hurricane season has seen an uptick in severe weather, highlighting the island’s vulnerability.
The island of Cuba has endured a widespread power outage following the assault of Hurricane Rafael, marking the second such incident in a mere fortnight. This powerful Category 3 hurricane, which ripped through Cuba’s western farmlands, resulted in significant devastation, laying waste to crops and toppling trees and power lines. As Rafael exited the island and weakened in the Gulf of Mexico, information remained scant. Forecasters had cautioned that winds reaching 185 km/h (115 mph) could lead to perilous storm surges and flash floods across this vulnerable region with a population of 10 million. The capital, Havana, saw residents emerging to survey the aftermath, discovering streets that were largely dry as the storm had passed approximately 60 km (40 miles) west of the city. However, the hurricane heavily impacted the critical agricultural provinces of Artemisa and Pinar del Río, with farmers struggling to protect 8,000 tonnes of tobacco and other crops. On Thursday, Havana’s streets were desolate; businesses and schools remained shut down while transportation services gradually resumed operations. Cuban authorities were compelled to suspend flights at Havana’s José Martí International Airport and the resort town of Varadero in response to the storm’s chaos. President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced the mobilization of military resources to deliver aid, declaring, “Measures have been taken in each place to protect our people and material resources.” Nonetheless, many Cubans expressed deep-seated feelings of déjà vu as they confronted persistent hardships and a lack of confidence in the government’s ability to restore basic services, particularly given its strained economic ties with the United States and the political turmoil facing its ally, Venezuela. Residents shared their plight, with Marta León Castro lamenting, “I am desperate, I am homeless. The roof is gone and I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Another Havana resident, Giovanny Fardales, voiced his concern, saying, “All the chicken and pork I bought is going to get ruined in the fridge if we don’t get power back soon.” This recent outage follows a previous crisis caused by failures in aging thermoelectric power stations, exacerbated further by the recent Hurricane Oscar, underscoring the island’s vulnerability. As the hurricane season approaches its conclusion, Rafael stands as the 17th named storm, part of a broader worrying trend in hurricane frequency and intensity observed over the years. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that the 2024 season might produce an above-average number of storms, signaling ongoing susceptibility for the region in the future.
Cuba’s geographic location makes it particularly susceptible to hurricanes, which often cause significant damage due to the island’s aging infrastructure and limited economic resources. The damaging impacts of hurricanes are exacerbated by the country’s strained relations with the United States, which complicates the nation’s recovery efforts. The 2023 hurricane season has proved notably active, with multiple storms leading to catastrophic conditions, particularly evidenced by the consecutive hurricanes over the past weeks. The Cuban government has historically relied on military mobilization during disasters, but the country’s economic challenges raise concerns about the effectiveness and speed of its response during such crises.
In conclusion, the aftermath of Hurricane Rafael underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Cuba in terms of disaster preparedness and recovery. The loss of power and continuing hardships for residents demonstrate both the vulnerability of the island and the critical nature of its infrastructure needs. As the frequency of severe hurricanes rises, the impact on the island’s economy and its people grows increasingly dire, prompting urgent calls for effective policy responses and aid. The events surrounding this hurricane reinforce the need for comprehensive strategies aimed at resilience and recovery in the face of natural disasters.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
