The Electric Union will interrupt the electric service in the territories affected by Hurricane Rafael starting today, to avoid accidents due to the wind-force increase of the hydrometeorological phenomenon.

Havana, Cuba.- “Once the winds of Hurricane Rafael reach 60 kilometers per hour, the gradual disconnection of the distribution circuits will be carried out,” said the Electric Union, responsible for supplying that energy in the country.

Through its account on the social network X, the entity informed that the measure is applied “to avoid accidents and failures in the electric networks.”

According to the Forecast Center of the Cuban Institute of Meteorology, between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. local time, Hurricane Rafael, with a possible Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, should enter the Cuban archipelago at a point between Playa Cajío and Playa Dayaniguas, in Artemisa and Pinar del Río, respectively.

The institution’s Tropical Cyclone Warning No. 10 states that this morning Hurricane Rafael continued to rapidly gain in organization and intensity, its maximum sustained winds have increased to 160 kilometers per hour, making it a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Its minimum central pressure has continued to drop to 964 hectoPascals, it has remained in a northwesterly direction for the past few hours and has slightly increased its speed.

The Institute points out that this system will continue with a similar course and speed of movement, passing through the seas near the Isle of Youth during the morning, and may gain even more intensity before making landfall near the southern coast of the provinces of Artemisa and Pinar del Río.

Given its proximity to the national territory and the forecast trajectory, the authorities request that the greatest possible attention be paid to the future evolution of Rafael and the information issued by the forecast center. (PL)