Hurricane Rafael leaves Cuba with widespread power outages and disrupted services

Hurricane Rafael struck Cuba on Wednesday, causing significant power outages across the island. The storm hit the Artemisa province with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, down from 115 mph earlier. The Cuban electrical company reported that strong winds led to the disconnection of the National Electric System. Contingency protocols have been activated to address the outages. Internet connectivity has also been impacted, with over 1,400 radio base sites affected, representing about 60% of the country's antennas. Authorities have suspended flights, transportation, and classes in the hardest-hit areas.