Power outages spark protests and rising tensions across the island
Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed again on Sunday, marking the fourth failure in just 48 hours, further deepening the island’s energy crisis. The repeated outages, which have left millions of residents without power, come at a time when the country is already grappling with severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. The latest blackout, which followed weeks of rolling outages, sparked small protests in various parts of the island, while authorities continued efforts to restore power.
The first major grid failure occurred on Friday, after Cuba’s largest power plant shut down, plunging around 10 million people into darkness. Since then, the grid has failed three more times, underscoring the fragile state of Cuba’s infrastructure. Despite the government’s promises of swift restoration, many Cubans have endured months of blackouts, fueling frustration among residents who have suffered through the Caribbean’s sweltering summer heat without consistent electricity.
President Diaz-Canel calls for calm as protests erupt over blackouts in Cuba
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel appeared on national television Sunday night, dressed in military attire, urging citizens to express their frustrations with "discipline and civility" as the government works to restore power. He stressed that the authorities would not tolerate acts of vandalism or threats to public order, though small-scale protests had already erupted in some areas.
In neighborhoods like San Miguel de Padron, residents blocked streets with debris and engaged in “cacerolazos,” banging pots in protest over the lack of electricity, food, and water. These demonstrations were quickly dispersed by security forces, but the unrest reflects growing tensions across the island as the blackouts persist.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Oscar made landfall on Sunday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that hampered recovery efforts. Officials warned that power may not be restored for several more days and urged residents to stay home as schools were canceled and non-essential workers were asked to remain off the streets. As Cuba’s energy crisis deepens, the government continues to blame the U.S. trade embargo and fuel shortages, while residents struggle to cope with the impacts of ongoing blackouts.
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