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Officials in Cuba have begun restoring power after the country suffered a nationwide blackout on Wednesday caused by Hurricane Rafael, the country’s president says.<\/p>\n
Hurricane Rafael brought strong winds of up to 185km\/h (115mph), causing a shutdown of the country’s electricity system for the second time in just weeks.<\/p>\n
At least 70,000 people were evacuated from their homes before the storm made landfall on Wednesday with warnings of storm surges, flash flooding, and mudslides. <\/p>\n
No fatalities have been reported.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
President Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel said the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque as well as the capital Havana were severely hit.<\/p>\n
“Every step from this point forward is geared towards recovery. Together we will do it,” he added.<\/p>\n
The western parts of the country saw widespread flooding and damage to properties brought on by the hurricane. Most of the country’s 10 million population are still without power.<\/p>\n
In Havana, residents used shovels, brooms and buckets to clear rubbish, mud and branches as they assessed the damage on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Fallen electricity pylons lined the motorway from the capital’s west to Artemisa, and towns along the route were strewn with branches and debris from damaged homes.<\/p>\n
One Artemisa resident said people were having to “improvise” to deal with the power cuts.<\/p>\n
“If you don’t have gas, you have to improvise with coal,” Elias Perez said. <\/p>\n
“Yesterday my wife and I got by with coal. It’s a mess, but we have to keep going.”<\/p>\n
Last month, millions in Cuba were left without power for four days after issues with the country’s old energy infrastructure caused a blackout.<\/p>\n
That blackout also coincided with Hurricane Oscar, a less powerful category one storm that left a trail of destruction along the island’s north-eastern coast.<\/p>\n
Natalia Martinez, also from Artemisa, said: “We know how to survive, we’re in the dark all the time, you know.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n