Cuba Shuts Four Airports and Suspends Transport Services Amid Hurricane Rafael

The Cuban government has announced the temporary closure of four airports, including those in Havana and Varadero, as Hurricane Rafael approaches the island. The transport ministry stated on Wednesday that services at Gerona, Cayo Largo del Sur, Havana, and Varadero airports will be suspended from 12:00 a.m. on November 6 (05:00 GMT) until 12:00 p.m. on November 7 (17:00 GMT), due to the hurricane’s anticipated impact on western Cuba.
In addition to airport closures, the Cuban government has halted several intercity bus and rail routes, as well as maritime navigation along the western coast. The ministry apologized for the inconvenience caused and advised passengers with travel plans during this period to contact travel agencies or other service providers to reschedule.
Hurricane Rafael, now a Category 1 storm, has been intensifying. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported that the cyclone’s speed increased, with maximum sustained winds reaching 80 miles per hour as it moved northwest through the Cayman Islands at 13 miles per hour.