HAVANA — Cuban authorities say power has been almost completely restored in the eastern city of Santiago nearly three weeks after Hurricane Sandy.

A report in Communist Party newspaper Granma says the lights are back on for 99.8 percent of customers in the city and 47 percent in outlying areas.

Santiago took a near-direct hit from Sandy on Oct. 25. The storm killed 11 people on the island, damaged more than 200,000 homes and caused significant crop losses.

Authorities have not given an estimate of the total economic damage. But the U.N. says Sandy may end up being the most devastating storm to hit that part of Cuba in at least 50 years.

Granma said Wednesday that phone service is expected to be at 90 percent of normal by month's end.