Cuba's Darkness Deepens Amidst Energy Crisis

Cuba is experiencing severe blackouts, affecting electricity and water supply across the island. The recent failure of the Antonio Guiteras plant exacerbated the issue, leading to desperation among residents. The government has implemented emergency measures to manage the crisis, while residents resort to makeshift solutions.

Many Cubans were engulfed in anxiety on Sunday as widespread blackouts continued to plague the island.

Despite some power restoration in Havana, much of the city remained shrouded in darkness, impacting essential services like water supply, reliant on electricity.

Residents have turned to cooking on improvised wood stoves, trying to salvage food before it spoils.

Several people, overwhelmed with frustration, express a growing sense of desperation. Ylenis de la Caridad Napoles, mother to a young child, reflects this sentiment, tearfully questioning how much longer they can endure such conditions.

The recent collapse of the Antonio Guiteras plant on Friday marked another setback in Cuba's ongoing energy distribution struggles, as electricity shutdowns became routine, disrupting daily life and severely impacting economic stability.

On Sunday, countless Cubans endured lengthy waits for bread, with limited availability due to bakery closures.

Rosa Rodríguez, among those enduring a four-day outage, expressed frustration with unresolved problems.

The blackout's far-reaching impact left around half of Cuba in darkness, worsening after a crucial power plant failed amidst increased demand.

The Cuban government recently restored partial electricity, but the power supply remains critically below the necessary 3 gigawatts.

Amidst the blackout, deemed the worst since Hurricane Ian's devastation in 2022, emergency measures were announced, seeking to alleviate the strain by reducing electricity demand.

The crisis highlighted systemic issues, including the neglect of aging infrastructure and fuel shortages hampering power generation. With no clear end in sight, Cuba faces an uphill battle to stabilize its energy grid and protect its citizens from prolonged blackouts.

(With inputs from agencies.)