Chaos in Cuba: Hurricane Oscar Slams into Island Battling Blackout
Hurricane Oscar made landfall in eastern Cuba on Sunday evening, unleashing its fury on an island already reeling from a massive power outage. The storm’s arrival piles more misery onto a nation grappling with widespread electricity failures and severe economic woes.
Oscar, a Category 1 hurricane, struck Cuba at 5:50 PM local time. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported winds nearing 130 km/h as the storm crawled westward at 11 km/h.
A Perfect Storm of Problems
The hurricane couldn’t have come at a worse time for Cuba. The country’s power grid collapsed on Friday when its largest power plant unexpectedly shut down. This triggered a chain reaction, plunging nearly the entire island into darkness.
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy tried to reassure the public, saying:
“We expect to restore power to most areas by Monday night. The last customers should have electricity by Tuesday.”
But many Cubans remain skeptical. Rafael Carrillo, a mechanic in Havana, expressed the widespread frustration:
“God knows when we’ll get power back. I had to walk almost 5 km today because there’s no public transport running.”
A Nation in Crisis
The blackout is just the latest blow to hit Cuba. The country faces:
- Sky-high inflation
- Shortages of food, medicine, and fuel
- The tourism industry, crippled by COVID-19, is still recovering.
- Ongoing effects of U.S. trade restrictions
These problems have driven many Cubans to leave. Over 700,000 have entered the U.S. since January 2022, seeking a better life.
Government is under pressure
President Miguel Diaz-Canel is feeling the heat. He blamed Cuba’s fuel shortage on U.S. trade rules, saying they make it difficult to get supplies for power plants. But many Cubans point to years of poor management and underinvestment in the energy sector.
Diaz-Canel warned against unrest during the blackout:
“We will act severely against anyone who tries to disturb public order.”
This tough talk comes after major protests in July 2021, when thousands took to the streets shouting “We are hungry!” and “Freedom!” The protests resulted in one death and hundreds of arrests.
Bracing for Impact
As Hurricane Oscar approached, authorities in eastern Cuba scrambled to protect people and key resources. The storm brings new dangers:
- Flooding from heavy rains
- Damage to already fragile infrastructure
- The blackout has made rescue and relief efforts challenging.
A History of Hardship
Cubans are no strangers to power problems. In 2022, the island suffered months of daily outages. Hurricane Ian caused another nationwide blackout that year.
To boost its power supply, Cuba has:
- Turkey leased seven floating power plants.
- Added many small diesel generators
- The government declared an “energy emergency” to prioritize home electricity.
Looking Ahead
As Hurricane Oscar moves across Cuba, the nation faces days of uncertainty. Will the power come back on as promised? Can the deteriorating infrastructure endure the current challenges? And how much more can Cubans endure?
One thing is clear: Cuba needs more than quick fixes. Without major upgrades to its power grid and economy, the island may keep lurching from one crisis to the next.
For now, Cubans do what they’ve always done—they endure. They help their neighbors, share what little they have, and hope for brighter days ahead. However, their patience is dwindling, and the darkness engulfing Cuba extends beyond a mere absence of electricity. It’s a stark reminder of the challenges facing this proud but struggling nation.
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