Cuba issues hurricane alert as tropical storm Rafael approaches after Oscar's damage
Cuban authorities have issued an alert for central and western Cuba as tropical storm Rafael is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane by Wednesday. About 21,000 people in Pinar del Río may need to evacuate.
This comes just days after Hurricane Oscar caused significant damage in Guantánamo, where over 12,000 homes were affected and eight people died. The country is still recovering from a recent electrical grid collapse, leading to daily blackouts.
In response to the storm, evacuations are underway, and local media report increased government efforts to provide aid. However, criticism remains over the slow response to Hurricane Oscar, with some residents feeling unprepared for the recent flooding.