Cubans are still suffering from a major power outage on Monday, while suffering from the effects of a tropical storm passing through the island, as the head of state warned of any disturbances to the public.
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The population of 10 million spent a third night without power due to a malfunction on Friday at the country's main thermal power plant, shutting down the entire grid.
Small relief for residents already hard-hit: the hurricane OscarThe hurricane made landfall the previous evening in eastern Cuba with winds approaching 130 kilometers per hour, and overnight from Sunday to Monday it was downgraded into a tropical storm by the US Hurricane Center (NHC).
Waves reached four meters high on the seafront near the town of Baracoa, where the accident occurred Oscar. State television said that the roofs and walls of houses were damaged and electricity poles and trees fell.
While the government said it hoped to restore power on Monday evening, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned on Sunday evening that his government would not tolerate unrest.
He confirmed, while wearing military uniform, during an interview broadcast on television news, that the residents went out on Saturday evening to try to “disrupt public order.”
He stressed that all perpetrators of the unrest would be tried “with the severity provided by revolutionary laws.”
Many of these people were acting “under the direction of operators of the Cuban counter-revolution from abroad,” Mr. Díaz-Canel said.
Power outages were one of the reasons for the historic protests on July 11, 2021.
On Sunday evening, residents took to the streets in several neighborhoods in Havana to express their dissatisfaction, according to what photographers told Agence France-Presse.
Dozens of people, including women carrying children in their arms, came out with pots and pans in the Santo Suarez neighborhood, chanting “Turn on the light.”
Waste barriers were also set up in the Centro area.
Users on social media posted video clips talking about a demonstration in Manicaragua (central), but Agence France-Presse was unable to verify their authenticity.
In his speech, President Díaz-Canel acknowledged that the situation in the electricity system remains “complex” and characterized by extreme “instability.”
Earlier on Sunday, Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said: “We can say that between tomorrow, Monday morning, afternoon or evening, service will be restored for the majority of Cubans.”
A few hundred thousand residents were able to benefit from a few hours of electricity on Sunday, before the entire electricity system was paralyzed again, according to the National Electricity Company.
The authorities suspended essential lessons and professional activities until Wednesday, with only hospitals and basic services for the population remaining operational.
Cuba is facing its worst crisis in thirty years. The massive power outages that followed chronic blackouts are adding to food and medicine shortages and accelerating inflation.
“Cubans are tired of many things,” laments Sergey Castillo, a 68-year-old construction worker. He added angrily: “There is no life here. This country cannot handle it anymore,” explaining that for two days he has been “only eating appetizers, pizza, and other fast food.”
“My refrigerator has not worked for three days, and I am afraid everything will be destroyed,” says Adismari Koza, a 56-year-old worker.
The Cuban President announced, on Thursday, on the eve of a general power outage, that the island is experiencing an “energy emergency” and is facing difficulties in purchasing the fuel needed to operate its electrical stations, due to the tightening of the blockade imposed by Washington. Since 1962.
In Cuba, electricity is produced through eight dilapidated thermal power plants, sometimes idle or under maintenance, in addition to several floating power plants leased to Turkish companies, and electric generators.
In September 2022, the island had already experienced widespread power outages after the passage of Hurricane Ian, which struck the west of the island. It took several days for electricity to be fully restored in Havana, causing sporadic demonstrations in different neighborhoods.
