Havana, September 14 (RHC/Telesur) – Over 70 percent of Cuba’s electrical power has been restored in the wake of Hurricane Irma, Cuba's Prensa Latina has reported.

The hurricane, which rocked the island nation’s northern coast earlier this month, left vast areas without power for days.

Cuba’s National Electric System has been fully interconnected, according to Electric Union of Cuba official Jorge Armando, with only one major power plant, in the city of Matanzas, staying off the power grid as a result of the damage suffered. Once repaired, full energy transmission will be restored throughout the Caribbean island, said Armando.

Government agencies and the population continue to work to restore the country to normality. The Ministry of Higher Education announced that 11 universities had reopened and that classes have resumed. And all hospitals and health clinics are functioning normally, except for two: the America Arias and Hermanos Ameijeiras hospitals, in Havana.

Telephone service in over 24 thousands Cuban residences had yet to be restored.

Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage in Cuba, the scope of which is yet to be assessed. Irma has been the first in recorded history to remain a Category 5 during three consecutive days with sustain maximum winds of 183 mph for 37 consecutive hours.