Cuba in the dark: Another nationwide power outage brings chaos!

Cuba in the dark: Another nationwide power outage brings chaos!

A massive power outage has once again plunged Cuba into darkness. Millions of people have been without power since Friday evening, leading to massive restrictions in everyday life for the second day in a row. According to state utility UNE, only about 1,500 megawatts are available again, which is less than half of normal electricity demand at peak times. This breakdown was caused by a problem at a substation and is the fourth nationwide blackout in five months on the island, which has a population of around ten million vienna.at reported.

Cuba's aging infrastructure is a constant problem that often leads to such disasters. In the capital Havana, only 19 percent of the connections are currently supplied with power again. The lack of stable electricity poses a major threat to vital facilities such as hospitals, which often rely on their own generators. Many residents are forced to charge their cellphones on the streets when they can find electricity, and they struggle to keep food from spoiling by searching for ice, like n-tv.de reported.

Government and emergency response

The Cuban government attributes the ongoing power outages to the US trade embargo, which has existed for more than 60 years and makes oil deliveries from abroad more difficult. Emergency systems have been activated in various provinces, but many citizens continue to live in darkness. Currently only around 200 megawatts are generated, while the normal electricity demand in Cuba is around 3,000 megawatts at peak times. In view of the recurring blackouts, the living situation is extremely tense for many people and they regularly have to expect power outages that last for hours.