The electrical grid of Cuba has fallen all of a sudden after Hurricane Ian tore the Western end of the Island and left it in shreds, leaving more than ten million people without power.
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| The hurricane caused widespread damage as it tore through Pinar del Rio in Cuba, and left the island withouth any power at all. Photo: Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters via Al Jazeera |
Residents numbering thousands were evacuated ahead of the forceful storm, which resulted to landfall early on Tuesday in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province where much of the tobacco used for its cigars is grown.
Technical Director of the Electric Union of Cuba, Lázaro Guerra, said, a failure in the National Electric system, partly due to the storm, had affected the power network.
According to state media, Guerra said, teams would work earnestly to ensure power is restored.
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| A woman crosses an empty street during the passing of Hurricane Ian in Havana, Cuba. Photo: Ismael Francisco/AP Photo via Al Jazeera |
The United States National Hurricane Center (NHC), at the time of impact, reported the maximum speed of Hurricane Ian at 205km/h (127mph), as well as said, there were “significant wind and storm surge impacts”.
State media disclosed, President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, paid the affected region a visit.
A victim, 65-year old Caridad Fernandez, Consolacion de Sur, Southwest of Havana, said, her roof was destroyed and water came in through her front door.
She said, “Everything we have is damaged.
“But we’ll get through this, we’ll just keep moving forwards.”
