Cubans are facing a growing crisis as widespread blackouts stretch into their fourth day, worsened by the impact of Hurricane Oscar. In Havana’s Santo Suárez neighborhood, residents have taken to the streets in protest, banging pots and pans, as frustration mounts. Without electricity or water, people are watching their food spoil and struggling to meet basic needs.
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated that electricity could be restored by Monday or Tuesday, but the storm’s effects will likely slow progress. Oscar made landfall on Sunday, weakening to a tropical storm but threatening key power plants in eastern Cuba. The blackout, considered one of the worst since Hurricane Ian in 2022, has forced people to cook outside on improvised wood stoves as they wait in long lines for bread and other essentials.
Cuba’s aging power grid, affected by frequent breakdowns and a fuel shortage, has struggled to meet demand. With international offers of assistance from countries like Mexico, Venezue