- Hurricane Oscar slams Cuba causing widespread blackouts
- The storm has worsened a nationwide power outage in its third day after the collapse of the country’s largest power plant
- Oscar adds to Cuba’s struggles with inflation, and shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and water
Hurricane Oscar slams Cuba causing widespread blackouts
Hurricane Oscar made landfall in eastern Cuba on Sunday evening, intensifying the country’s ongoing struggle with power outages. The Category 1 storm, with winds reaching 80 mph (130 km/h), struck just as Cuba was dealing with its third day of near-total blackout after the collapse of its largest power plant on Friday.
This power plant failure triggered a nationwide power crisis, and the government is working to restore electricity by Monday night. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said most Cubans should have power by then, though full restoration might take until Tuesday. The blackout has left most neighbourhoods in Havana without power, except for critical services like hospitals and hotels with backup generators.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel emphasised that the government is focused on protecting people and resources but also warned that any attempts to cause unrest during the crisis would be dealt with severely. This blackout comes after weeks of prolonged outages, some lasting up to 20 hours a day, especially in rural areas.
The government has blamed the country’s economic troubles on the U.S. trade embargo, which they say has made it harder to get essential fuel and supplies. Cuba is also facing its worst economic crisis since the early 1990s, marked by high inflation and shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.
