Attachments
Completed by: Jesús Manuel Iglesias Gómez, CCRD
Date completed: 28th of November 2024
Forum: Forum ACT Cuba
Type of emergency: Hurricane
Date of emergency (if rapid onset): 6th of November 2024
1. The nature of the emergency
On the evening of Wednesday, November 6, 2024, Hurricane Rafael (Category III on the Saffir-Simpson scale) struck the western part of Cuba, passing through the provinces of Mayabeque and Artemisa and causing significant damage to urban infrastructure and agriculture. The hurricane also caused collateral damage in Havana Province. Sustained winds exceeding 185 km/h and torrential rain battered these areas, including the cities of Artemisa and Bauta1. This disaster occurred amid an unprecedented national energy crisis, characterized by repeated disconnections of the national electrical system, which left the entire country without power for several days2. As of November 8, 2024, the situation is still not fully resolved, and parts of the country, especially in the western provinces, remain partially or entirely without electricity.