Publish: 14:04, 16 Mar, 2025

Millions of Cubans spend second night without electricity

Online Desk
Millions of Cubans spend second night without electricity
Photo - Collected

Millions of Cubans were without electricity for a second night Saturday after a widespread blackout hit the island, the fourth in less than six months.

Cubans have been facing a serious economic crisis marked by widespread food, fuel and medicine shortages, and the island's aging and often failing power system has made things worse.

The latest major outage began late Friday at a substation near the capital Havana and then spread nationwide, affecting most of the cash-strapped island's 9.7 million people.

Authorities said Saturday they were working to restore power, but acknowledged progress was slow.

In the meantime, Cubans were doing their best to get along.

Jorge Suarez, a 47-year-old lawyer, was having a beer at a Havana bar where a small generator was helping keep the place open.

"You get used to the conditions," he told AFP. "It's like the animals that live in the desert: they have to adapt to live without water.

"We just have to adapt and wait for the government... to resolve the problem."

Adela Alba, 37, owns the establishment, which also serves as a grocery store.

"It's very difficult to work like this," she said.

Her generator allows her to "maintain a minimum of service, because we have to pay the rent and the taxes despite the situation," she added.

Elsewhere people cooked meals using firewood due to the months-long gas shortage, while others gathered in homes or businesses with generators so they could charge their cell phones.

- 'From bad to worse' -

Ariel Mas Castellanos, an official with the power company in Havana, told local media that the equipment that failed "has been in service for many years and is getting old."

The authorities said Saturday that parallel circuits were helping provide power to priority sectors like hospitals and some neighborhoods.

"Several provinces have parallel circuits and generator units are starting to be synchronized" with the national grid, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on X.

Silvia Torres, a 64-year-old resident of Las Tunas province in eastern Cuba, is in an area benefiting from the parallel circuits.

"Thanks to God, we woke up with light... a blessing because I know that many provinces are still in the dark," she told AFP by phone.

The outage Friday evening plunged the streets of Havana into darkness, forcing people to navigate by phone and flashlight, and get home to dry taps.

"No elevator, no water, it's awful. I feel cornered, very annoyed," said Ruben Borroto, 69, who has to walk up seven floors to his apartment in the capital.

"Even if you don't want it to, this situation upsets you," said 26-year-old Daymi Echenique, adding that she has not had a second of light

"There is not a drop of water, and the food is starting to spoil," she said.

Much of the Cuban capital faces near-daily power cuts of four or five hours -- outages that can last 20 hours or more in the provinces.

In February, authorities suspended all activity on the island for two days to avoid a widespread blackout.

Two outages in the final quarter of 2024 lasted several days, one of them during a hurricane.

"God help us, this country is going from bad to worse," 82-year-old Havana resident Xiomara Castellanos said Saturday.

Cuba's eight thermal power plants, nearly all dating to the 1980s or 1990s, experience regular failures.

Floating Turkish power barges and a series of generators shore up the national power system, but the US embargo in place since 1962 makes it difficult to import fuel.

The government is now rushing to install at least 55 solar parks this year -- enough, it says, to supply 12 percent of national demand.

Source:AFP

Bd-pratidin English/ Afia

More News
US piles pressure on Houthis with fresh strikes
US piles pressure on Houthis with fresh strikes
Serbian government denies using 'sonic weapon' at protest
Serbian government denies using 'sonic weapon' at protest
Hong Kong property tycoon Lee Shau-kee dies
Hong Kong property tycoon Lee Shau-kee dies
Iran vows ‘decisive’ response to any act of aggression after US threats
Iran vows ‘decisive’ response to any act of aggression after US threats
Taiwan revokes visa of Chinese influencer
Taiwan revokes visa of Chinese influencer
Netanyahu seeks to dismiss Israel’s internal security chief
Netanyahu seeks to dismiss Israel’s internal security chief
Yemeni military again targets US aircraft carrier
Yemeni military again targets US aircraft carrier
Threatened by US, Canada hugs France and Britain close
Threatened by US, Canada hugs France and Britain close
Zelensky replaces his army chief of general staff
Zelensky replaces his army chief of general staff
Philippine Senate launches probe of Duterte's ICC arrest
Philippine Senate launches probe of Duterte's ICC arrest
39 dead over weekend as tornadoes, wildfires, dust storms devastate US
39 dead over weekend as tornadoes, wildfires, dust storms devastate US
Fuel lost but damage limited after North Sea ship collision: Operator
Fuel lost but damage limited after North Sea ship collision: Operator
Latest News
IOC board approves boxing for Olympics 2028
IOC board approves boxing for Olympics 2028
1 hour ago | Sports
US piles pressure on Houthis with fresh strikes
US piles pressure on Houthis with fresh strikes
1 hour ago | International
Directives issued for educational institutes to celebrate Independence Day
Directives issued for educational institutes to celebrate Independence Day
2 hours ago | National
Serbian government denies using 'sonic weapon' at protest
Serbian government denies using 'sonic weapon' at protest
2 hours ago | International
Hong Kong property tycoon Lee Shau-kee dies
Hong Kong property tycoon Lee Shau-kee dies
2 hours ago | International
New plot unfolding against BNP, democracy, Bangladesh: Tarique
New plot unfolding against BNP, democracy, Bangladesh: Tarique
3 hours ago | National
Elections needed first to bring the country under control: Dulu
Elections needed first to bring the country under control: Dulu
3 hours ago | National
Uncomfortable situation outcome of Hasina's misrule: Rizvi
Uncomfortable situation outcome of Hasina's misrule: Rizvi
3 hours ago | National
Project Hail Mary: Release date, cast, other things we know about
Project Hail Mary: Release date, cast, other things we know about
4 hours ago | Entertainment
Bangladesh, Australia want cooperation to enable mobility of skilled workforce
Bangladesh, Australia want cooperation to enable mobility of skilled workforce
4 hours ago | National
How Dutch art of life Uitwaaien could improve your Wellbeing
How Dutch art of life Uitwaaien could improve your Wellbeing
4 hours ago | Lifestyle
Govt to take initiative to make jute bags available: Commerce Advisor
Govt to take initiative to make jute bags available: Commerce Advisor
5 hours ago | Business
DU expels 128 students for attacking on July protesters
DU expels 128 students for attacking on July protesters
5 hours ago | National
Iran vows ‘decisive’ response to any act of aggression after US threats
Iran vows ‘decisive’ response to any act of aggression after US threats
5 hours ago | International
DMP appoints 426 “auxiliary” policemen to maintain order
DMP appoints 426 “auxiliary” policemen to maintain order
5 hours ago | City
Malaysia keen to assist Bangladesh in expat voting
Malaysia keen to assist Bangladesh in expat voting
6 hours ago | National
EC sends letter to consensus commission expressing disagreement on some recommendations
EC sends letter to consensus commission expressing disagreement on some recommendations
6 hours ago | National
UK to boost investment in Bangladesh’s growth
UK to boost investment in Bangladesh’s growth
6 hours ago | Business
Chinese company to invest $12.25m in Mongla EPZ
Chinese company to invest $12.25m in Mongla EPZ
6 hours ago | Business
Taiwan revokes visa of Chinese influencer
Taiwan revokes visa of Chinese influencer
6 hours ago | International
No more tax exemptions without necessity: NBR
No more tax exemptions without necessity: NBR
6 hours ago | Business
Netanyahu seeks to dismiss Israel’s internal security chief
Netanyahu seeks to dismiss Israel’s internal security chief
7 hours ago | International
Govt to amend act, proposes tribunal for child rape cases
Govt to amend act, proposes tribunal for child rape cases
7 hours ago | National
Yemeni military again targets US aircraft carrier
Yemeni military again targets US aircraft carrier
7 hours ago | International
Ronaldo faces Japan test in bid for maiden Asian crown
Ronaldo faces Japan test in bid for maiden Asian crown
7 hours ago | Sports
Rooppur NPP Unit-2 to get new heavy cranes from Russia
Rooppur NPP Unit-2 to get new heavy cranes from Russia
7 hours ago | National
India's Chandrayaan-5 moon mission officially approved
India's Chandrayaan-5 moon mission officially approved
7 hours ago | Tech
35,000 MT rice from India, Vietnam arrive at Ctg Port
35,000 MT rice from India, Vietnam arrive at Ctg Port
7 hours ago | Business
Gazi Jasim takes charge as CID chief
Gazi Jasim takes charge as CID chief
7 hours ago | National
Travel ban lifted on Orion Group chairman, wife
Travel ban lifted on Orion Group chairman, wife
7 hours ago | National
Most Read
Heatwave sweeps across 12 districts, including Dhaka
Heatwave sweeps across 12 districts, including Dhaka
11 hours ago | National
Foreigners to make grand appearance in Eid ‘Ityadi’ again
Foreigners to make grand appearance in Eid ‘Ityadi’ again
15 hours ago | Entertainment
Indian media calumniate Bangladesh
Indian media calumniate Bangladesh
9 hours ago | National
Inshallah we will win, Hamza says about India game
Inshallah we will win, Hamza says about India game
9 hours ago | Sports
Hamza's coming home
Hamza's coming home
14 hours ago | Sports
VAT return deadline extended to tomorrow
VAT return deadline extended to tomorrow
9 hours ago | Business
1,445 traffic violation cases filed in Dhaka
1,445 traffic violation cases filed in Dhaka
9 hours ago | City
Bangladesh plans cotton imports from US to deter tariff risk
Bangladesh plans cotton imports from US to deter tariff risk
9 hours ago | Business
Two MRT police officers suspended, probe committee formed
Two MRT police officers suspended, probe committee formed
9 hours ago | City
Dhaka ranks 14th in air pollution with AQI of 105
Dhaka ranks 14th in air pollution with AQI of 105
12 hours ago | City
ADB to provide $500mn loan for bank reforms
ADB to provide $500mn loan for bank reforms
14 hours ago | Special
Remittance inflow hits $1.65 billion in first 15 days of March
Remittance inflow hits $1.65 billion in first 15 days of March
13 hours ago | Business
Workers' protest for overdue salaries in Gazipur, 12 factories closed
Workers' protest for overdue salaries in Gazipur, 12 factories closed
11 hours ago | National
Hamza arrives home
Hamza arrives home
10 hours ago | Sports
BB issues guidelines to engage more students in school banking
BB issues guidelines to engage more students in school banking
12 hours ago | Business
Shahjahan Khan remanded in another mass uprising case
Shahjahan Khan remanded in another mass uprising case
10 hours ago | National
Project Hail Mary: Release date, cast, other things we know about
Project Hail Mary: Release date, cast, other things we know about
4 hours ago | Entertainment
One judge handles 1,500 cases
One judge handles 1,500 cases
11 hours ago | Special
Stranded US astronauts to return home Tuesday: NASA
Stranded US astronauts to return home Tuesday: NASA
13 hours ago | Tech
Police must play key role in building new Bangladesh: CA
Police must play key role in building new Bangladesh: CA
8 hours ago | National
Finance Adviser hints at corporate tax cuts in upcoming budget
Finance Adviser hints at corporate tax cuts in upcoming budget
14 hours ago | Business
31,000 train tickets sold in 30 minutes for Eid travel
31,000 train tickets sold in 30 minutes for Eid travel
11 hours ago | National
Dhaka Metro services resume as DMTCL staff call off strike
Dhaka Metro services resume as DMTCL staff call off strike
12 hours ago | City
Implementing prof Yunus’ philosophy to end violence against women
Implementing prof Yunus’ philosophy to end violence against women
15 hours ago | National
Will Smith announces release date for first album in 20 Years
Will Smith announces release date for first album in 20 Years
13 hours ago | Entertainment
Hina Khan performs Umrah in Ramadan amid cancer treatment
Hina Khan performs Umrah in Ramadan amid cancer treatment
13 hours ago | Entertainment
Travel ban lifted on Orion Group chairman, wife
Travel ban lifted on Orion Group chairman, wife
7 hours ago | National
Councillor Ekramul’s wife threatens defamation suit against director Rafi, Prothom Alo
Councillor Ekramul’s wife threatens defamation suit against director Rafi, Prothom Alo
14 hours ago | National
How Dutch art of life Uitwaaien could improve your Wellbeing
How Dutch art of life Uitwaaien could improve your Wellbeing
4 hours ago | Lifestyle
Ex-Nagorik Committee leader announces new political platform
Ex-Nagorik Committee leader announces new political platform
15 hours ago | National