Cubans are facing a challenging situation with an extended power outage now accompanied by the arrival of a new tropical storm. The widespread blackouts have persisted for the third consecutive day, prompting feelings of frustration among many residents. As Hurricane Oscar made landfall on Cuba’s eastern coast, bringing strong winds and heavy rain, the concerns of the population have escalated.
In the neighbourhood of Santo Suárez, located in southwestern Havana, residents took to the streets in protest on Sunday night. With no electricity or water, people expressed their grievances by banging pots and pans and blocking the streets with garbage. One resident, Mary Karla, shared her distress, stating, “We haven’t had electricity for three nights, and our food is rotting. Four days without electricity is an abuse to the children.”
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy addressed the situation in a news conference, expressing hope for the restoration of the electricity grid by Monday or Tuesday morning. However, he acknowledged that the impact of Hurricane Oscar on the region could pose additional challenges to the recovery efforts, especially for key power plants in areas affected by the storm.
While some neighbourhoods in the capital city of Havana have had their electricity partially restored, the majority of the city remains in darkness. The blackout has not only affected lighting but has also disrupted essential services such as water supply, which relies on electricity to operate pumps. Residents have resorted to cooking on improvised wood stoves to prevent food from spoiling in refrigerators.
The outage, triggered by the failure of the Antonio Guiteras plant, has revealed deeper issues in the country’s energy infrastructure. The government has implemented emergency measures to reduce electricity demand, including suspending school and university classes, closing certain state-owned workplaces, and cancelling nonessential services. The lack of proper maintenance in old thermoelectric plants and fuel shortages have contributed to the challenges in restoring power.
Despite Cuba’s history of power outages due to economic crises, the current situation is considered one of the most severe since Hurricane Ian struck the island in 2022. With offers of assistance from countries like Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Russia, efforts are being made to address the crisis. As residents endure the hardships of the ongoing power outage and the impact of the tropical storm, the resilience and solidarity of the Cuban people are being put to the test.