Chile experienced a significant blackout this Wednesday, leaving 98.5% of its population temporarily without power. Cubadebate, a Cuban state-run media outlet, reported on this massive outage, sparking outrage among Cubans who have been enduring continuous and extended power cuts for months without resolution from the government.
The power failure in Chile, which impacted around 20 million individuals, was deemed "exceptional" by emergency management consultant Michel De L’Herbe. He mentioned to CNN that the disruption in the central interconnected system led to transportation chaos and severe urban congestion. Despite the scale of the incident, power restoration began within hours, and Chilean authorities have launched an investigation into the causes. By now, nearly all Chileans have their electricity restored to normal.
The coverage by Cubadebate of this event led to a wave of criticism and mockery from Cubans. They questioned why the official media outlet would focus on a single-day blackout in Chile while Cuba faces ongoing, severe power outages with no improvement in sight.
Reactions from Cubans: Frustration and Irony
Comments from readers on the state media's publication highlighted the widespread dissatisfaction with Cuba's energy situation. Some of the most viral comments included:
"How does Chile's blackout affect us? What affects us are the continuous hours of power outages in Cuba. That's what they should analyze instead of explaining irrelevant matters!"
"You must have a face not of concrete but of diamond to talk about blackouts in other countries."
"Are they seriously worried about a blackout in Chile? We've been enduring outages exceeding 12 hours for several months now, and they do nothing to improve the situation, yet they're concerned about Chile."
"If Chile declared a state of catastrophe for a day without power, what state are we in Cuba? Final phase?"
"The reasons why we are without power for 15 to 20 hours in much of Cuba, except for privileged areas, are less clear."
"We can give survival classes for blackout situations. Cubadebate is so concerned about world events... while everything is just fine here."
One of the most ironically praised comments was: "It proves that Cuba is an example for the world."
Cuba: Prolonged Energy Crisis with No Resolution
The harsh reality is that Cuba has faced several nationwide blackouts over the past year, some lasting more than three days. In central and eastern provinces, daily outages exceeding 20 hours are routine, leaving citizens unable to store food, cook, or often access potable water.
Despite these hardships, the regime continues to blame the United States government and the economic embargo for Cuba's electrical system problems, refusing to acknowledge their lack of investment and maintenance in the country's energy infrastructure.
Cubadebate's report, which was not an original article but a reprint from RT, was perceived as a deliberate distraction from Cuba's internal crisis.
The Cuban public's indignation towards such news only underscores the despair of a population that, after years of unmet promises, no longer finds valid explanations for the collapse of their electrical system.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the massive blackout in Chile?
The blackout in Chile was attributed to a failure in the central interconnected system, leading to significant transportation disruptions and urban congestion.
How did Cubans react to Cubadebate's reporting on Chile's blackout?
Cubans expressed outrage and sarcasm, criticizing Cubadebate for focusing on Chile's temporary blackout while ignoring Cuba's severe and ongoing power outages.
What are the main reasons behind Cuba's energy crisis?
Cuba's energy crisis is primarily due to insufficient investment and maintenance in its electrical infrastructure, exacerbated by the government's refusal to take responsibility, instead blaming external factors like the U.S. embargo.