Cuba hit by second nationwide blackout as Hurricane Rafael makes landfall

Island's national power company says strong winds from category 3 hurricane caused disconnection

Cuba's national power grid has suffered a country-wide blackout as Hurricane Rafael made landfall on the island's south-west coast as a powerful category 3 hurricane.

In a brief statement on Wednesday, the country's national power company, Union Electrica, said: Strong winds caused by the powerful Hurricane Rafael have caused the disconnection of the national electrical system. Contingency protocols have been applied."