Hurricane Oscar has wreaked havoc on Cuba, particularly in the capital, Havana, which is now facing significant power outages and unrest. The storm, which made landfall on Sunday, left at least six dead and exacerbated the existing energy crisis on the island. Residents have endured massive blackouts for four consecutive nights, prompting protests in several neighborhoods.
On Monday, Havana was largely paralyzed, with many areas experiencing severe power shortages. The situation has sparked protests, with demonstrators banging pots and pans in the streets and blocking roads with garbage. One resident, Mayde Quiñones, expressed her frustration, stating that the ongoing crisis particularly affects the elderly and vulnerable populations.
The Cuban government, known for its low tolerance of civil disobedience, issued a warning against any unrest. President Miguel DÃaz-Canel emphasized on national television that vandalism and disturbances would not be tolerated. The prolonged blackouts are part of a deeper economic crisis that has contributed to an exodus of over half a million Cubans to the United States and thousands more to Europe.
The Cuban authorities often attribute the country’s economic woes to the United States’ long-standing trade embargo. However, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre contended that the hardships faced by Cubans are exacerbated by the government’s mismanagement of economic policies and resources. Despite relatively low power costs, availability remains a critical issue, with the government reporting that it generates only 700 megawatts of electricity against a peak demand of 3 gigawatts.
By Monday afternoon, approximately 80% of Havana was experiencing intermittent power supply, but skepticism among residents about the government’s claims was widespread. Small-business owner Juan Estrada highlighted the fears of food spoilage due to the inconsistent power supply.
In response to the crisis, Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy indicated that efforts were underway to restore reliable electricity by Monday or Tuesday. Schools remained closed through at least Thursday as the government implemented emergency measures to reduce electricity demand. These measures included suspending classes, shutting down some state-owned businesses, and halting nonessential services.
The outages have been attributed to a combination of increased demand from small and medium-sized enterprises, residential air conditioning, and failures in old thermoelectric plants that have not been adequately maintained. Additionally, fuel shortages have hindered operations at various facilities. The energy minister mentioned that the situation could have been less severe if not for additional partial blackouts while attempting to reconnect power.
Several countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Russia, have offered assistance to help Cuba address its energy crisis, indicating potential international support in the wake of this disaster.
