Cuba Braces for Hurricane Oscar Amid Prolonged National Blackout
Havana, Cuba (AFP)— Cuba is on high alert as Hurricane Oscar approaches its shores, threatening to compound the already dire situation of widespread power outages that have left the island in darkness for the third consecutive day. The hurricane, projected to make landfall in northeastern Cuba by Sunday evening, brings with it the potential for more trouble in a country already battling economic disarray.
The national power grid suffered a massive setback on Friday following the unexpected collapse of Cuba’s largest power plant, triggering a near total blackout. As Hurricane Oscar, a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph), nears the island, the government is racing against the clock to mitigate further chaos.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has reassured citizens through social media, stating the government’s efforts to safeguard people and resources in anticipation of the hurricane’s arrival. Despite these efforts, progress in restoring electricity has been sluggish. Currently, only 16 percent of consumers have access to power, with approximately 500 megawatts being generated—a mere fraction of the nation’s typical demand of 3,300 megawatts.
The situation has been exacerbated by the country’s aging infrastructure. The national electric utility, UNE, reported limited success in generating enough power to reboot plants, but a subsequent grid failure dashed hopes of a swift recovery. As a result, most of Havana remains enveloped in darkness, with exceptions only for critical institutions like hospitals and certain hotels equipped with generators.
Residents, such as Rafael Carrillo, express deep frustration. "God knows when the power will come back on," lamented Carrillo, who faces an arduous walk due to compromised public transport services.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero’s declaration of an "energy emergency" further emphasizes the severity of Cuba’s predicament. Non-essential public services have been suspended to prioritize the restoration of household electricity. Yet, the country’s energy dilemma is deeply rooted, attributed in part to challenges in fuel procurement resulting from the long-standing U.S. trade embargo, which was tightened under former President Donald Trump.
This confluence of natural and man-made crises marks Cuba’s most severe economic downturn since the Soviet Union’s collapse in the 1990s, characterized by rampant inflation and crippling shortages of basic goods. The lack of power and ensuing hardships have prompted a wave of emigration, as many Cubans seek better opportunities abroad.
As Hurricane Oscar looms, Cuba confronts an unnerving reality, caught in a struggle against nature and structural deficiencies that continue to cast long shadows over its future stability.
