The passage of Hurricane Rafael through the province of Artemisa in western Cuba has left a trail of destruction.
The chronology of events shared by the local official media The Artemiseño highlights the intensity with which this natural phenomenon affected the region.
At 4:42 p.m. on November 6, 2024, the center of Hurricane Rafael, category three, was located over Artemisa, the head municipality of the province.
The Electrical Union (UNE) reported the disconnection of the National Electrical System a few hours earlier, at 2:48 p.m. due to the strong winds associated with the hurricane.
According to the information provided, the Mariel meteorological station recorded intense rain of 121.8 millimeters between 9 in the morning and 5 in the afternoon, with a peak of 78.6 millimeters between 4 and 5 pm. In addition, maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 186 kilometers per hour were reported.
At 18:20, the center of Rafael was leaving the northern coast of Artemisa near Bahia Honda. Although the hurricane was moving away, strong winds were forecast to continue affecting the province during the night and early morning, although to a lesser extent.
Images of the disaster in Artemisa, Cuba
The first images of the incident showed the magnitude of the disaster. At 7:00 p.m., with Rafael walking away, devastating scenes of severe damage to the territory were revealed.
One of the most impressive was that of the Artemis Hunters stadium, which suffered great damage due to strong hurricane winds.
Local authorities assure that they will continue to assess the damage and organize recovery efforts. But the worst is yet to be seen in Cuba after the passage of Hurricane Rafael.
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The recent passage of Hurricane Rafael has left a profound impact on the northern coast of Artemisa, Cuba. Reports indicated that the area experienced an intense rainfall peak of 78.6 millimeters between 4 and 5 pm, accompanied by maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching up to 186 kilometers per hour. As of 6:20 pm, the center of the hurricane was moving away from the coast near Bahia Honda. However, local authorities warned that strong winds would continue to affect the region throughout the night and into the early morning hours.
By 7:00 pm, as Rafael began to move away, the extent of the destruction in Artemisa became increasingly evident. Among the notable damages reported was to the Artemis Hunters stadium, which suffered significant structural harm due to the powerful hurricane winds. Images shared from the scene captured the severity of the devastation, highlighting the urgent need for recovery efforts.
Local authorities have pledged to continue assessing the damage and organizing recovery initiatives, though they anticipate that the full extent of the damage may not yet be known. The situation remains critical as the community begins to recover from the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Rafael.
