Ryan Berg, an analyst from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), recently shared two images purportedly captured by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), highlighting the extensive blackout enveloping the island of Cuba. "These satellite images courtesy of @NASA illustrate the disastrous management by the Communist Party," Berg stated on his profile on X.
The two images reveal a stark contrast, showing the island before and after the blackout that has persisted since last Friday and remains unresolved. The second image also depicts the tropical storm Oscar affecting the eastern region of the country. Clearly visible in both photographs is the silhouette of Cuba, shrouded in extreme darkness.
Since last Friday, Cuba has been experiencing a widespread power outage due to the fragility and instability of its electrical infrastructure. Despite government promises to rectify the situation, they have yet to meet the electricity demands of the Cuban population.
A Stark Contrast to Brighter Times
The photos stand in stark contrast to images NASA shared in 2020, which depicted a brightly illuminated island. "Everything aligns. The deep blues and bright turquoises surrounding Cuba, the Bahamas, and southern Florida complement each other beautifully," NASA commented at the time.
As per NASA's statement, the earlier photo was taken "on a calm, albeit slightly cloudy spring day," using a Nikon D5 digital camera with a 16-millimeter lens. "The image was captured by a member of the Expedition 62 crew. It has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed," they confirmed.