Status: 09/28/2022 09:05 a.m
A category three hurricane moves through the Gulf of Mexico. In Cuba he left heavy devastation. The US state of Florida is preparing for hurricanes and a possible storm surge.
All of Cuba lost electricity due to Hurricane Ian. This was announced by the energy supplier Union Electrica. Work is underway to restore power.
The hurricane made landfall on the west coast of Cuba early Tuesday morning and caused severe devastation there. The power went out first in the western provinces, then the power grid collapsed across the country.
Hurricane Ian wreaks havoc on Cuba
Tagesschau 5:30 a.m., 28.9.2022
No deaths reported yet
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated to safety in Cuba. In the province of Pinar del Rio, 40,000 people had evacuated their homes as a precaution. There was also severe damage in the nearby cities of Artemise and Havana. There were floods and houses were damaged.
According to the authorities, they are still checking the extent of the devastation. No deaths or injuries have been reported so far. According to state media, Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the most severely affected region.
Storm surge possible in Florida
Meanwhile, the US state of Florida is preparing for the hurricane. “Predictions are subject to change, but for now the experts are saying this could be a very severe hurricane, life threatening and with devastating effects,” said US President Joe Biden.
The US hurricane center warned of a life-threatening storm surge and hurricane gusts on Florida’s west coast. There were evacuation orders for 2.5 million people.
Hurricane could gain strength
Meteorologists warn that the hurricane, previously classified as a category three hurricane, will gain strength over the warm Gulf of Mexico. It could reach sustained wind speeds of more than 200 kilometers per hour.
The hurricane is expected to weaken before making landfall south of the city of Tampa, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said. But there will be a lot of rain in the coastal region because the cyclone will then move at a “snail’s pace”. DeSantis called on people to protect themselves.