Cuba’s Power Grid Faces Repeated Failures Amid Hurricane Oscar’s Arrival

Hurricane Oscar made landfall in eastern Cuba on Sunday, worsening the situation for millions who were already dealing with power outages. The storm, which hit near Baracoa as a Category 1 with winds of 80 mph, weakened to a tropical storm later in the day, moving west-southwest at 6 mph. Despite efforts to restore electricity, the grid collapsed for the fourth time since Friday, plunging much of the nation into darkness.

In Havana, power had been partially restored to 88% of the city by Monday afternoon, but many residents across the country continued to face outages. With schools closed until Thursday, children have been sleeping outside to escape the heat, and some residents gathered in dimly lit streets, passing time playing dominoes. The Cuban government also instructed non-essential workers to stay home, while the U.S. Embassy limited its services to emergencies.

Heavy rainfall is expected to continue, with forecasts predicting 6 to 12 inches across eastern Cuba, potentially reaching up to 18 inches in some areas. Neighboring regions, including the southeastern Bahamas, may see as much as 8 inches in isolated spots.

The repeated power failures have led to growing frustration among Cubans, with some taking to the streets over the weekend in small protests, banging pots and disrupting traffic. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned the demonstrations, stating that the government would not tolerate public disorder. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz highlighted the challenges of balancing energy supply, noting that economic activities had been paused to prioritize electricity for residents.

Cuba’s energy crisis stems from a combination of factors, including aging infrastructure, recent hurricanes, and intensified U.S. economic sanctions. The lack of power has disrupted daily life, forcing residents to queue for bread and share updates on available power through social media. Those with access to generators helped store medicines for others, and some Havana residents noted the absence of aid from traditional allies like Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, which had previously supplied oil to the island.

Tourists continued to explore Havana in classic cars, though many hotels struggled as their backup generators ran out of fuel. At the city’s main airport, limited emergency power meant that ticket printers were down, and there was no air conditioning. Despite the government’s efforts to manage the crisis, many Cubans are left to endure long periods without electricity, making it difficult to preserve food and maintain basic services.