According to the authorities, this massive outage affected all sectors, including hospitals, businesses and homes, causing serious inconvenience to the population.
Power cuts are nothing new in Cuba, but this blackout seems to have been particularly widespread and sudden, raising serious concerns among Cubans. Reports indicate that many areas were without power for several hours, making the situation even more difficult in the heat of the day.
Officials have begun investigating the causes of the blackout. While climatic factors may be at play, many also point to the fragility of the Cuban power grid, which suffers from persistent structural problems and a lack of investment in infrastructure. Equipment shortages and supply difficulties exacerbate this already precarious situation.
The government has promised to work quickly to restore service, but public confidence has been shaken. Cubans, already facing major economic challenges, are hoping for a return to normal as soon as possible. In the meantime, the energy crisis continues to affect the daily lives of citizens, who are worried about their future.
The day before, the government had announced a work stoppage in the public sector, along with other measures, to combat the energy crisis affecting the island. In recent weeks, some provinces have experienced power cuts of up to twenty hours a day.
Cuba has been enduring a total blackout since mid-day Friday, following the shutdown of the island's main thermal power plant. The streets of Havana were deserted, with no public transport, little vehicular traffic and no traffic lights. Some private businesses remained open. Classes were suspended nationwide until Monday. "The system is without electricity throughout the country", following the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras power plant, Lazaro Guerra, Director General of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, told state television. Mr. Guerra said that when the power plant shut down "the system collapsed".
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