The Cuban National Civil Defense has announced a state of "normalcy" for provinces ranging from Guantánamo to Camagüey, transitioning them to the Informative Phase as of 11 a.m. this Wednesday. This decision comes as Hurricane Rafael, nearing Cuban soil, poses no significant threat to these regions. According to Informative Note No. 5 from Civil Defense, "based on data from the Meteorological Institute's Forecasting Center, the progression and path of Hurricane Rafael do not endanger the provinces of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, Las Tunas, and Camagüey. Consequently, these areas have shifted to a state of normalcy and are now in the Informative Phase."
However, it was noted that "in Guantánamo province, the municipalities of San Antonio del Sur, Imías, Maisí, and Baracoa are still in the recovery phase from Hurricane Oscar." Meanwhile, the western provinces, including Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, and Sancti Spíritus, along with the special municipality of Isle of Youth, remain under an Alarm Phase. This alert was issued at six a.m. on Wednesday due to Rafael's impending proximity to the island, with the storm having reached Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Current Conditions and Precautions
In Ciego de Ávila, authorities have maintained an Informative Phase but have urged residents to "pay particular attention to coastal flooding along the southern coast," as emphasized in the official statement. Despite the warnings and advisories, the country faces a widespread power outage, complicating the dissemination of information. Civil Defense has urged residents to "stay informed through national, provincial, and municipal media, as well as official social media channels."
Residents are also reminded to "follow the directives issued by local authorities and Civil Defense diligently." On Tuesday, as Rafael intensified from a tropical storm while moving through the Caribbean, its outer bands began impacting eastern Cuba. In particular, Santiago de Cuba experienced downed trees and telephone poles, damaged electrical infrastructure, and heavy rains that led to flooding.
Lingering Impact of Hurricane Oscar
Despite the declaration of normalcy in Guantánamo, the easternmost province remains heavily affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Oscar. The storm's torrential rains had isolated municipalities like San Antonio del Sur and Imías for days. The Category 1 cyclone left over 11,000 homes either completely or partially destroyed across San Antonio del Sur, Imías, Baracoa, and Maisí. It also obliterated more than 13,000 hectares of farmland and inflicted substantial damage on electrical and telecommunications networks.
Tragically, the storm also resulted in the loss of life. Official government reports confirm eight fatalities, with two individuals still missing. Yet, local residents from the hardest-hit municipalities believe the actual number of deaths and missing persons is significantly higher.