Cuba is recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Rafael, which slammed into the island last Wednesday evening as a powerful Category 3 storm. The hurricane left widespread destruction in its wake, including the collapse of hundreds of homes, extensive damage to the national power grid, and significant infrastructure disruption.

Although no fatalities have been reported, authorities confirmed that at least 461 homes were destroyed across the country. More than 283,000 people were evacuated, with over 98,000 residents in Havana relocated to safer areas. The storm left streets in the western part of Cuba littered with downed utility poles, wires, and uprooted trees, severely disrupting transportation and daily life.

José Ignacio Dimas, a security guard in Havana, returned home from his night shift to find the apartment building where he lived had collapsed. “The entire front wall of the building fell,” he said, surveying the damage in the early hours of Thursday morning. Many of the city’s buildings are old and have long suffered from a lack of maintenance, making them particularly vulnerable to such storms.

In Havana, residents worked together to clear debris and manage the aftermath. Concerned about food spoiling due to power outages, some neighbors took matters into their own hands, setting up an informal soup kitchen. Ariel Calvo, one of the volunteers, emphasized the importance of community support. “If we don’t work together as neighbors, nobody does it,” he said as he helped clear fallen branches and debris.

By Thursday morning, power had been partially restored in Cuba’s western regions, though the national electricity director, Lázaro Guerra, warned that full restoration would take time. Emergency crews were proceeding cautiously to ensure safety as they worked to repair the grid.

As of Thursday, Rafael had weakened to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 9 mph (15 kph). The storm was located about 260 miles (420 kilometers) west-northwest of Havana and continued toward Mexico, where heavy rains were expected.

Earlier in the week, Rafael had brushed past Jamaica and battered the Cayman Islands, causing flooding, power outages, and significant damage. In Jamaica, authorities are still searching for a couple who were last seen in a car swept away by floodwaters.

Hurricane Rafael is the 17th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which has already been marked by significant activity. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted an above-average season, with as many as 25 named storms, including 13 hurricanes.

For Cuba, the impact of this storm comes on the heels of months of hardship, including island-wide blackouts and a series of disasters that have worsened the country’s ongoing economic crisis. With many people already facing extreme conditions, the storms have only intensified public dissatisfaction, contributing to a rising tide of migration from the island.