Havana's Provincial Transport Company has announced the suspension of public passenger transport across the province due to the impending threat of Hurricane Rafael. Effective from Tuesday, November 5th at 9:00 PM, all public transportation services will be halted until conditions normalize, as stated in a report from the state-run entity.
The decision, made by the Provincial Defense Council, cites the "imminent arrival of Hurricane Rafael," which is expected to have a significant impact on the western region of Cuba, particularly Havana. From 9 PM onwards, only buses returning to terminals were visible on the roads.
In addition to the suspension of land transport, maritime passenger transport across Havana Bay remains halted, as previously announced. The company's executives are maintaining close communication with the Provincial Defense Council and the Ministry of Transport. "We apologize for the inconvenience caused to our passengers," the statement concludes.
Hurricane Rafael is advancing northwestward, potentially reaching the status of a "major hurricane"—category 3—as it approaches western Cuba. According to the latest bulletin from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 4:00 AM, Rafael was located approximately 190 km southeast of the Isle of Youth and 310 km south-southeast of Havana.
The hurricane is exhibiting maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and is moving northwest at a speed of 22 km/h (14 mph). This trajectory is expected to persist throughout the day, with a shift towards the west-northwest as it enters the Gulf of Mexico. Rafael might rapidly intensify to a major hurricane before landfall in western Cuba today. It could weaken slightly while crossing Cuba, but is forecasted to regain strength in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane warnings are currently in place for Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and the Isle of Youth. Meanwhile, tropical storm warnings cover Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, and Ciego de Ávila, with a "tropical storm watch" issued for Camagüey and Las Tunas.
Presently, hurricane-force winds extend up to 30 km from the center of the system, while tropical storm-force winds reach out to 165 km, impacting a substantial area.