This Sunday, starting at 4:30 pm, Cuba was once again left completely without electricity, marking the fourth general blackout that the island has suffered in recent days.
The energy crisis has intensified due to failures in the national electrical system, with those who have been dealing with intermittent power outages for days.
According to Félix Estrada Rodríguez, director of the National Load Dispatch of the Electrical Union (UNE), the incident occurred after a failure in the 110 kV line in the central area, while they were trying to restore the power generation system on the island.
To deal with the situation, the authorities are implementing a strategy based on the creation of electrical “islands.” This involves the reorganization of energy generation in smaller, controlled areas, covering regions from Mayabeque to Artemisa, including Havana.
Subsequently, thermal units are expected to be phased in to reinforce the system and restore power supply more broadly.
Tropical Storm Oscar aggravates the situation
Added to this serious energy crisis is the threat of Tropical Storm Oscar, which entered eastern Cuba as a hurricane.
Although its intensity has decreased, the meteorological effects impact the eastern provinces of the country, such as Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín and Las Tunas, with torrential rains, thunderstorms and accumulations of water greater than 360 mm in some areas.
Authorities have issued flood alerts and warn that these rains will continue for the next few hours, further complicating efforts to restore power.
Díaz-Canel’s warning in the face of protests over blackouts
In this terrible scenario, the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, warned that protests or acts of vandalism in response to the power outages will not be tolerated. “We are not going to allow the tranquility of our people to be disturbed,” he expressed during a meeting of the National Defense Council.
In addition, the suspension of administrative and educational activities in the affected areas has been decreed until Wednesday, October 23, prioritizing attention to essential services and the safety of the population.
Cuba is going through one of the worst energy crises in recent times and is now also facing the effects of the Oscar storm.
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