Major blackout hits Cuba, leaving millions without power

A widespread blackout across Havana and western Cuba occurred on December 3.

According to Africa News plus agencies, the blackout left millions on the island without electricity and worsened the chronic power shortages, deepening Cuba’s economic crisis.

Authorities stated the outage began when a transmission line connecting two thermoelectric plants failed, creating a domino effect that cut power for half the country.

This blackout has caused hardship for many, especially families with children. “This is very bad. The thermoelectric plants are always breaking down,” explained one resident. They went on to continue that they “have two small children so this is very bad. This country is in very bad shape. To get food is very difficult.”

Cuba’s struggles extend beyond the blackout. In October, along with several other countries, Cuba was struck by Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 which caused extensive damage to the region. Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti faced power cuts and dangerous conditions after winds reached 295kph.  Ultimately, the extreme weather event left at least 241 communities in Cuba completely isolated.

The current electricity cuts have also disrupted water service and put strain on private-sector businesses, as many rely on generators they can hardly afford to fuel.

Cuba has faced substantial energy problems, highlighting the wider economic crisis affecting the country. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry has been affected, and there have been tighter U.S. sanctions.

Despite engineers’ efforts to restore power, the blackout has taken a heavy toll on residents. Frustration continues to grow, with many saying that rolling outages have become a defining part of daily life.

Cuba remains in the midst of an electricity crisis. While there is hope for a lasting solution, the country has long suffered from frequent outages that strain households already coping with limited resources.

Africa News plus Agencies, Maghrebi.org