HAVANA (Reuters) -Tropical Storm Rafael gained steam late on Monday as it churned northward toward Cuba, which is still struggling to recover from a nationwide blackout and hurricane two weeks ago.

Thousands of people in the west of the island were evacuated as a prevention measure before Rafael was expected to slam into Cuba on Wednesday.

Hurricane Rafael is intensifying rapidly and is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge, damaging wind, and heavy rain to Western Cuba today before moving into the Gulf of Mexico.