A staggering 72% of Cuba's population remains in the dark following a nationwide power outage that hit the island Friday night, according to a recent survey conducted by CiberCuba on social media. The survey highlights the ongoing struggle to restore electricity in the wake of the national grid's collapse.
The survey engaged over 2,400 respondents, with 1,778 still reporting no electricity at home. This leaves only 28% of the population with restored power. Frustration is rife among citizens, as evidenced by comments from various provinces expressing dissatisfaction with the slow response and the uncertainty about when normal service will resume.
Users from different regions shared their experiences: "Colón, Matanzas, we've been without power since 7 p.m. two days ago"; "Pinar is in blackout"; "Playa has neither electricity nor water since Friday"; "Complete blackout in Centro Havana"; "No power yet in Playa, Miramar"; "Total blackout in Antilla, Holguín"; and "Songo, Santiago province, is in the dark," some reported.
Lázaro Guerra Hernández, an engineer, provided the latest update on the restoration efforts of the National Electric System (SEN). He noted that the system has been reconnected from Havana to Guantánamo, with the exception of Pinar del Río and Artemisa, which are operating on microgrids and awaiting integration once the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant comes online.
In Santiago de Cuba, partial reconnection to the SEN was achieved at 5:27 a.m. on Sunday, although most residents remain without service. Currently, only 43.6 MW of power is available, supplying 127,842 customers, highlighting the critical nature of the situation.
In Havana, certain areas, including the municipalities of Boyeros, Guanabacoa, Centro Havana, Marianao, Cerro, 10 de Octubre, La Lisa, Playa, San Miguel del Padrón, and Arroyo Naranjo, have electricity. They collectively demand 68 MW, which caters to approximately 19% of the capital's customers.
Understanding Cuba's Ongoing Power Crisis
What caused the massive power outage in Cuba?
The power outage was the result of a collapse in Cuba's national electric grid, which failed on Friday night, leaving the entire country without electricity.
How many people are currently affected by the blackout?
According to a survey by CiberCuba, 72% of the population, or about 1,778 respondents, are still without power.
Which areas in Cuba have had electricity restored?
Electricity has been restored in parts of Havana, including Boyeros, Guanabacoa, Centro Havana, Marianao, Cerro, 10 de Octubre, La Lisa, Playa, San Miguel del Padrón, and Arroyo Naranjo.