Cuba has been hit hard by a nationwide blackout, exacerbating the already critical situation surrounding its failing power grid and economic turmoil.
Authorities reported a complete disconnection of the electrical system, affecting all approximately 11 million residents. The Ministry of Energy and Mines stated they were looking into the matter while asserting that the functioning units remained intact during the outages.
Electricity director Lázaro Guerra mentioned that efforts were underway to reboot several thermoelectric plants as a vital step toward restoring power.
“It must be done gradually to avoid setbacks,” he explained, emphasizing the fragility of the current systems.
This incident marks the third significant blackout in just four months, revealing the dire implications of decades of communist governance juxtaposed with aging infrastructure.
As darkness enveloped Havana, families resorted to candles for light. One mother, Yuneici Cecilia Riviaux, shared her struggles, stating, “We have to prepare a mattress for the girls here so that they can sleep here because we have no choice.”
For many, these power outages have turned from mere inconveniences to clear indicators of the need to leave the island. Tomás David Velázquez Felipe, a resident of Havana, voiced the despair among citizens: “What little we have to eat spoils. Our people are too old to keep suffering.”
By that evening, about 5% of Havana’s residents regained power, with officials warning that the small circuits online might fail again.
The Cuban regime attributes its challenges to U.S. sanctions, highlighting President Trump’s stringent stance on energy imports. His administration has been vocal about wanting to see political change in Cuba, demanding freedom for political prisoners.
This week, Trump reaffirmed his belief in Cuba’s weakened state, stating, “I think I could do anything I want with it.” He expressed determination regarding the regime’s future.
In discussions behind closed doors, U.S. officials reportedly have a keen interest in removing Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel from power, indicating ongoing negotiations about the island’s future.
Experts assert that the current blackout is merely a symptom of a long-developing crisis. William LeoGrande, an academic familiar with Cuban affairs, noted the system’s lack of maintenance has led to its current deterioration.
Daily life in Cuba now poses challenges beyond mere survival, as families like Yaimisel Sánchez Peña’s struggle to keep food from spoiling, reliant on money sent from the U.S.
“Every day, she suffers,” Sánchez Peña lamented, emphasizing the anxiety felt by many. Resident Mercedes Velázquez encapsulated the situation: “We’re here waiting to see what happens. Everything goes bad.”
