Cuba faced a third power outage on Saturday, leaving millions without electricity and raising concerns about the government's ability to restore power. The national grid first collapsed on Friday, followed by another outage on Saturday morning. Despite some progress being reported in restoring power, the grid failed once again on Saturday evening.
The Havana Electric company announced the total disconnection of the national electro-energetic system late on Saturday, with the energy ministry acknowledging another disconnection in the western sub-system. The complex process of re-establishing the electrical system has proven to be a challenge for authorities.
The grid failures have led to severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel on the island, exacerbating the difficult conditions for residents. Residents have been forced to cook over open fires and endure the heat without electricity. Small protests were reported in Havana, but the authenticity of videos circulating on social media could not be verified.
Internet traffic in Cuba dropped significantly on Saturday, making it difficult for residents to communicate online. Meanwhile, Hurricane Oscar made landfall in the Bahamas and was headed towards eastern portions of Cuba, further complicating the situation.
The Cuban government has attributed the blackouts to deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages, and rising demand, as well as challenges in acquiring fuel and spare parts due to U.S. sanctions. The U.S. has denied any involvement in the grid failures.
Overall, the repeated power outages in Cuba have highlighted the country's vulnerability and raised questions about the government's ability to address the ongoing crisis. The situation remains uncertain as residents continue to face hardships without a clear timeline for the restoration of power.