CUBA fought back after a fierce category three hurricane ripped across the island and knocked out the country’s power grid today.

The magnitude of the impact remained unclear through the early hours of the day, but forecasters warned that Hurricane Rafael could bring “life-threatening” storm surges, winds and flash floods to Cuba.

This came after the Cayman Islands and Jamaica suffered heavy flooding and landslides.

On Wednesday evening, massive waves lashed Havana’s shores as sharp winds and rain whipped at the historic cityscape, leaving trees littered on flooded roads. Much of the city was dark and deserted.

As it ploughed across Cuba, the storm slowed to a category two hurricane chugging into the Gulf of Mexico near northern Mexico and southern Texas, according to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami.

Classes and public transport were suspended on parts of the island and authorities cancelled flights in and out of Havana and Varadero. 

The Cuban people are forced to fight against the continued illegal blockade imposed by the United States for around six decades.

The increased ferocity of the storms — due to climate change — the Covid-19 pandemic and the US blockade have had a major impact on the Cuban economy, including tourism.

But Cuba is fighting back with a major campaign to boost tourism to the Caribbean nation.

Speaking to the Morning Star at the World Tourism Market in London, the director-general of marketing and communications at the Ministry of Tourism Pilar Alvarez Azze said: “We are ready to welcome tourists with open arms.”

Ms Azze said tourism was not a money making venture for Cuba: “Tourism is for the benefit of the people.”

She said everyone should remember that “we developed tourism despite the US blockade and we will rebuild it again despite the challenges we face.”

Ms Azze said: “Cuba is more than its beaches. We invite everyone to come and enjoy the authentic Cuba.”