Hurricane Oscar Threatens Cuba Amid Power Crisis

Hurricane Oscar is predicted to hit Cuba's Guantanamo or Holguin areas, as Cuba is recovering from a massive blackout. Oscar, with winds at 80 mph, is likely to weaken after impact but might still cause heavy rainfall and storm conditions over the central Bahamas.

Hurricane Oscar is anticipated to reach the Cuban regions of Guantanamo or Holguin on Sunday, presenting a new challenge for the island as it struggles to restore power following its worst blackout in years, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Currently located approximately 115 miles east-northeast of Guantanamo, Cuba, Oscar carries maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. Despite restoring power to almost one-fifth of the population, Cuba faces the potential impacts of the hurricane, which made landfall on Great Inagua in the Bahamas earlier.

Forecasts suggest Oscar will weaken after hitting Cuba's northeastern coast but may remain a tropical storm as it affects regions north of Cuba by Monday and the central Bahamas by Tuesday. Rainfall between 5 to 10 inches is expected in eastern Cuba through Tuesday, while some warnings have been lifted in the Bahamas.

(With inputs from agencies.)