Cuba Faces Third Day Without Power Amidst Hurricane Oscar’s Approach

Cuba enters its third day without power as Hurricane Oscar approaches, leaving millions affected by an energy crisis due to a failing electrical grid. Initial restoration efforts have stalled, resulting in widespread outages that threaten basic services and provoke public unrest. Authorities attribute the situation to economic sanctions, hurricane impacts, and aging infrastructure, while recovery efforts are complicated by the hurricane’s impending landfall.

As Cuba confronts a humanitarian crisis, millions remain without power for a third consecutive day due to a series of failures within the country’s aging electrical infrastructure. The Cuban Electrical Union reported that only approximately 16% of the population had their electricity restored before further overloads occurred late Saturday. This ongoing crisis, which began with a widespread blackout on Friday following the malfunction of a major power plant, represents the third comprehensive failure of the energy grid over the weekend, leaving many of the 10 million residents without access to electricity since then. Compounding the challenges, Hurricane Oscar is projected to make landfall in northeastern Cuba, bringing strong winds and high surf, which may hinder recovery efforts. With initial landfall on Inagua Island in The Bahamas, the hurricane boasts sustained winds of 80 mph. While weakening is expected after making landfall, forecasts suggest Oscar could still be classified as a tropical storm as it moves north of Cuba in the coming days. The blackouts are impacting critical infrastructure, including water supply and food preservation, leading to increased tensions among the populace. In Havana, residents waited in long lines for basic necessities such as bread, often engaging in disputes over missed opportunities to purchase food. Meanwhile, some individuals resorted to WhatsApp to share information about power availability and organize the storage of essential medications in the limited instances of power restoration. Foreign tourists have been observed using Havana’s antique cars, even as many hotels have run low on generator fuel. Reports indicate that José Martí International Airport was operating solely on emergency power, affecting essential services, including ticket printing and air conditioning. Small protests erupted overnight, reflecting widespread discontent among Cubans, with many questioning the absence of support from traditional allies, including Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, who have historically supplied the island with oil. Cuban officials attribute the energy crisis to multiple factors, including stringent U.S. economic sanctions, hurricanes that have disrupted operations, and the overall depletion of the country’s infrastructure. In a televised address overshadowed by technical difficulties, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz indicated that economic activities were being curtailed to prioritize electricity generation for the populace. Health Minister José Angel Portal Miranda confirmed that medical facilities were reliant on generators, ensuring the continuation of vital health services amid the outages.

Cuba has long struggled with a deteriorating electrical grid, which has been further exacerbated by political and economic challenges, including US sanctions and the effects of natural disasters. The current energy crisis is marked by recurring blackouts that disrupt daily life and threaten essential services. The recent emergence of Hurricane Oscar adds urgency to the restoration efforts, complicating an already dire situation. As the country grapples with these challenges, the impact on public health, safety, and food supply becomes increasingly pronounced, leading to civil unrest and heightened frustration among citizens. The government’s reliance on temporary measures, such as using generators, underscores the critical condition of infrastructure and services in Cuba.

In summary, the ongoing power outage affecting millions in Cuba is a result of repeated failures within the country’s aging electrical system, now exacerbated by the imminent threat of Hurricane Oscar. This situation highlights the vulnerability of essential services, including healthcare and food security, leading to public unrest and dissatisfaction among citizens. The government’s response to the crisis involves prioritizing power generation, yet the long-term solutions remain critical as the nation seeks to stabilize its precarious energy situation and address fundamental infrastructural challenges. The involvement of international allies could play a crucial role in alleviating the immediate humanitarian impacts of this crisis.

Original Source: www.cnn.com