Rafael was strengthening as it headed towards the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center in the United States.

Four provinces in the west of the island, including Havana, have been placed on cyclone alert.

The NHC said Rafael was expected to become a Category 1 hurricane (Category 5 is the strongest) as it passed near the Cayman Islands and to strengthen further before making landfall in western Cuba on Wednesday.

According to Cuban media, over 70,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, mostly in Guantanamo in the east of the island, where eight people were killed by Hurricane Oscar last month.

While Guantanamo is not expected to experience hurricane conditions persistent rain this week has left the ground saturated.

In Havana, state television showed workers clearing drains, collecting garbage and cutting back trees to prepare for Rafael.

The US State Department urged citizens to reconsider travel to Cuba in light of the weather conditions.

Hurricane Oscar lashed Cuba last month as it was in the throes of a four-day nationwide blackout caused by the failure of the island's biggest power plant and a shortage of fuel.

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