Cuban Protests Surge Amid Power Crisis and Hurricane Threat

As widespread power outages enter their fourth day in Cuba, protesters take to the streets amid escalating concerns heightened by Hurricane Oscar. Residents face deteriorating living conditions as key power plants face additional pressure from the storm, raising issues of energy distribution and resource management.

In a dramatic protest sparked by prolonged blackouts, Cubans have taken to the streets as their island nation grapples with power outages now compounded by Hurricane Oscar's impact. With electricity out for days, residents are responding with increasing frustration and desperation as food spoils and lives are disrupted.

Residents of Santo Suárez, a neighborhood in Havana, made their displeasure known by banging pots and blocking roads with debris. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy explained that the blackout, which began with a failure at the Antonio Guiteras plant, has been worsened by the hurricane affecting critical power plants. Despite reassurances, power remains out for many, particularly in Havana.

The power crisis underscores broader economic struggles, with government measures attempting to curb demand by halting school and nonessential services. As international allies offer assistance, Cubans are left battling daily hardships, embodying a resilience that shone through past crises but is now tested by cascading challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)