The Cuban government has halted both educational activities and non-essential work across the island in response to a widespread blackout that began in the early hours of the morning. According to Pedro Rizo Martínez, a journalist from state media, all school activities and operations at workplaces not tied to essential production and services have been suspended as of Wednesday.
The Cienfuegos-based radio station "Radio Ciudad del Mar" specified that attendance at daycare centers has also been halted. The announcement noted that further details regarding boarding schools will be provided later.
Havana's Electric Company shared on Facebook that by approximately 7:00 am, power had been restored to two 33kV circuits, fifteen 13kV circuits, and four hospitals. "Efforts are ongoing to restore electricity to the city without interruption," the company stated.
The country's national electricity system (SEN) suffered a complete collapse once more in the early hours of Wednesday due to an unexpected shutdown of the nation's largest thermoelectric plant, Antonio Guiteras, located in Matanzas. This information was relayed by the Havana Electric Company via its Telegram channel, which reported that the disconnection occurred at 2:08 am and that restoration efforts are underway.
Impact of the Cuban Blackout
What caused the recent blackout in Cuba?
The blackout was caused by an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, which is the largest in the country.
Which sectors are affected by the suspension of activities?
Both educational activities and non-essential work sectors have been suspended, including attendance at daycare centers.
How is the government addressing the power outage?
Efforts are being made to restore electricity, with progress already reported in several circuits and hospitals in Havana.