The eye of Hurricane Rafael is approaching the coast of Cuba

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported on Wednesday that the eye of Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 storm, is approaching the southern coast of western Cuba.

On the social media platform X, the NHC indicated that "Rafael is approaching the west of Cuba and is expected to make landfall in the coming hours."

"The next update will be provided in the full notice at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time," noted the monitoring center in its statement.

The Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology, in its bulletin 12 issued at 3:00 p.m., reported that the center of the hurricane was estimated at 22.4 degrees North latitude and 82.6 degrees West longitude, placing it 35 kilometers south-southwest of Cajío beach and 60 kilometers southeast of San Cristóbal, both locations in the province of Artemisa.

"This entity has been moving for the past few hours in a northwestern direction at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour," INSMET reported.

In addition, it was noted that this afternoon Hurricane Rafael continued to rapidly increase in intensity, with sustained maximum winds reaching up to 185 kilometers per hour, classifying it as a major hurricane, category three on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Its minimum central pressure has continued to drop to 956 hectoPascals.

However, the effects of Hurricane Rafael have been felt in various parts of Cuba. In Havana, for instance, it was raining in several areas of the capital.

The powerful hurricane Rafael is approaching the Cuban coast amid a complex situation with the National Electric System, which has collapsed in recent hours due to the effects of the winds.

The state-run newspaper El Artemiseño noted on Facebook that "the eye wall is approaching the western coast of Cuba. In the next two hours, very strong wind gusts will move inland in parts of Artemisa."

The news portal also reported that Cuban broadcasters have set up phone numbers for the public to stay informed during Hurricane Rafael. The numbers are as follows: Radio Reloj at 80073565; Radio 26 at 45247927 or 18899; Radio Ciudad del Mar at 43510090 or 18899; Radio Cadena Agramonte at 18899; and Radio Mayabeque at 18899, providing access to updated information and real-time recommendations.