Cuba: An entire country without electricity after Hurricane Ian | Globalism
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in CubaThe entire country was without electricity after Hurricane Ian passed on Tuesday (27). The storm has devastated the island’s western tip with winds and floods and is now heading towards Florida in the United States.
Lazaro Guerra, technical director of Uniao Electrico de Cuba, said a malfunction in the national electrical system, partly linked to the storm, affected the infrastructure, state media reported.
“The system was already operating under complex conditions with the passage of Hurricane Ian,” said Guerra, technical director of the Cuban Electricity Union. “There is no electricity service anywhere in the country at the moment.”
Partially destroyed street in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, after Hurricane Ian passed – Photo: Ramon Espinosa / AP Photo
The director said the union would work overnight to gradually restore power to the country’s 11 million residents early Wednesday.
Initially, the power was only cut off in the area of the country directly affected by the storm. But by early evening, the entire Cuban electricity grid had collapsed.
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated and others fled the area before Hurricane Ian hit. Authorities are still assessing the damage, although no injuries have been reported so far.
Devastation caused by Hurricane Ian in Havana, Cuba – Photo: Ismael Francisco/AP Photo
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