Hurricane Rafael slams Cuba, knocking out power

The storm's strong winds and heavy rainfall have battered the island, particularly the provinces of Artemisa and Pinar del Rio.

Over 70,000 people were evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure. Airports in western Cuba, including Havana and Varadero, were temporarily closed due to the severe weather conditions.

The storm's impact has been particularly devastating for Cuba, which has been struggling with frequent power outages and a fragile electrical grid. The recent collapse of the power grid just two weeks ago further exacerbated the situation.

As of Thursday morning, power restoration efforts are underway in the central and eastern parts of the country. However, the western regions, which bore the brunt of the storm, may face a longer recovery period.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center has downgraded Rafael to a Category 2 hurricane as it moves westwards through the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to weaken further over the weekend. (ILKHA)