Cuba is facing a major challenge as it struggles to restore power to millions of people after the island’s capital, Havana, plunged into darkness for the second night. The blackout, which began on Friday evening, has been caused by a transmission line shorting at a substation in Havana, leading to a chain reaction that shut down power generation across the island.
The country’s top electricity official, Lazaro Guerra, said he hopes both of Cuba’s two largest power plants will come online overnight, but warned that progress would be slow due to the risk of further setbacks. The grid operator has focused on ensuring vital services like hospitals, water supply, and food production centers receive electricity.
Despite efforts to restore power, many Cubans are facing severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and water, combined with mounting hours of daily blackouts. Tourists in Havana’s hotels were able to keep the lights on using generators, but street and stop lights were blacked out, making life increasingly difficult for locals.
The crisis is attributed to Cuba’s frail power generating system, which has been weakened by fuel shortages, natural disasters, and economic crises. The country blames its economic woes on a Cold War-era US trade embargo, while the US President Donald Trump recently tightened sanctions on the island’s communist-run government.
Cubans are adapting to the blackout, with many carrying on as normal despite the challenges. The crisis has highlighted the need for sustainable energy solutions, with Cuba investing in large, state-run solar farms to alleviate dependence on pricey fossil fuels.
The situation remains dire, with millions of people without electricity and severe shortages of essential goods. As the country struggles to restore power, its citizens are facing an uncertain future.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/cuba-still-largely-without-power-132826848.html