Oscar Makes Landfall In Cuba, Could Lead To 'Humanitarian Crisis': Updates

"Oscar, a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, reached Cuba Cuba after making landfall in the Bahamas hours earlier."

"Hurricane Oscar made landfall in eastern Cuba Sunday evening amid a power blackout, adding to fears that the storm may prove to be especially dangerous.

The Category 1 storm made landfall near the city of Baracoa shortly before 6 p.m. ET just hours after landfalling in the Bahamas, according to the National Hurricane Center. By 8 p.m., Oscar's maximum sustained winds decreased from 80 mph to 75 mph.

Oscar made landfall in Cuba as millions across the island were in the dark. The country's electrical grid collapsed on Sunday for the fourth time in 48 hours, marking a major setback in the government's efforts to quickly restore power to exhausted residents already suffering from severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel."

Julia Gomez and Minnah Arshad report for USA TODAY October 20, 2024.

SEE ALSO:

"Cuban Power Grid Collapses For Fourth Time As Hurricane Nears" (CNN)

"Nadine Weakens Over Guatemala After Pummeling Belize, Yucatan" (Reuters)

Source: USA TODAY, 10/21/2024