Cuban authorities are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Rafael, which is expected to hit the island today, Wednesday.

Cuba has declared a state of “hurricane alert” in nine of the 15 provinces in the west and centre of the island, including Havana province.

At least 70,000 Cubans have been evacuated in several provinces of the country, including more than 66,000 in Guantanamo (east), the province hardest hit by Hurricane Oscar.

The US Hurricane Centre said Rafael had strengthened into a hurricane 32 kilometres southeast of the Caribbean island of Little Cayman, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour.

Cuba was hit by Hurricane Oscar, which struck the easternmost part of the island on 20 October before weakening to a tropical storm.