The outage was regarded as the biggest to affect Cuba since Hurricane Ian, a Category 3 storm that devastated electricity installations in 2022, struck the country.
While the rest of the island prepared for the fourth night of a nationwide blackout that has sparked a few minor protests and a harsh government warning that any unrest will be punished, Cuba’s capital remained virtually motionless Monday.
After several dozen protesters staged demonstrations in urban areas such as Santos Suárez and central Havana on Sunday night, Hurricane Oscar made landfall on Sunday and moved across the island’s eastern coast on Monday as a tropical storm with winds and heavy rain, resulting in at least six fatalities.
While some protested from their balconies, others pounded pots and pans in the streets. At least one route was blocked with trash by protesters who claimed to be without water.
The 55-year-old homemaker Mayde Quiñones stated, “The country has completely halted.” She looks after her 80-year-old mother-in-law. “Everyone is harmed by this, but the elderly are most affected.”
President Miguel Díaz-Canel issued a warning on national television on Sunday, saying, “We’re not going to allow any vandalism, or let anyone disturb people’s tranquility.” The Cuban government has little patience for civil disobedience.
Following a huge outage Thursday night, the extended countrywide blackout came after energy issues in July 2021 caused the biggest protests in Cuba in nearly 30 years. Smaller local demonstrations in October 2022 and March 2024 followed.
The departure of almost half a million Cubans to the United States and thousands more to Europe is a result of a severe economic crisis.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Monday that the Cuban government’s “long-term mismanagement of its economic policy and resources has certainly increased the hardship of people in Cuba.” The Cuban government and its allies attribute the island’s economic woes to the United States’ 62-year-old trade embargo.
Although power is becoming more scarce, it is still reasonably priced. Although peak demand can reach three gigawatts, the Cuban government claims to be producing 700 megawatts.
About 80% of Havana had sporadic power by Monday afternoon, according to authorities, but many weren’t convinced.
Juan Estrada, 53, is the owner of a small business in central Havana. He said, “We have the fridge full of food and we’re scared.” His company hasn’t had reliable power since Friday am.
In a press conference, Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy expressed his optimism that more dependable energy would be restored by Monday or Tuesday morning; nonetheless, classes would remain closed until at least Thursday.
He said that because Oscar will affect a “region of strong (electricity) generation,” it will provide “an additional inconvenience” to Cuba’s recovery. Oscar made landfall on the eastern coast on Sunday evening.
The region is home to several Cuban power plants, including Renté in Santiago de Cuba and Felton in the city of Ho lguín.
Although Oscar eventually deteriorated into a tropical storm, its effects were expected to last until Monday on the island.
Before their food in refrigerators went bad, many of Havana’s 2 million residents had to cook on makeshift wood burners on the streets.
On Monday, there were long lines to purchase subsidized food, and not many petrol stations were open.
In a nation where electricity has been limited and distributed among various regions at different times, the Antonio Guiteras plant failure on Friday was the most recent issue with energy distribution.
It was unknown how Cuba’s other power plants fared.
Rosa Rodríguez and other Cubans had been without power for four days.
“There are countless issues facing us, and there isn’t a single solution,” stated Rodríguez. “The local bakery is closed, so we have to come get bread, and they bring it from somewhere else.”
