The energy crisis in Cuba forced hundreds of people to line up for long periods in Santiago de Cuba to buy liquefied gas on Friday, after a massive blackout that has prevented them from cooking.
60% of the gasified population in Santiago de Cuba still has not been able to access gas, which has led to chaotic scenes, with crowds scattered across various neighborhoods of the city in search of fuel, reported local journalist Yosmany Mayeta.
Last week, the regime reported a partial unloading of a liquefied gas cargo ship and said it would try to alleviate the tense situation in the country; however, the massive blackout this Friday caught many without the product.
Mayeta said that although the images could be mistaken for a carnival, it was hundreds of people trying to get liquefied gas amid the blackout.
The electrical situation has worsened to the point that they have only attempted to restore electricity in two circuits that cover critical hospitals such as the Pediatric South "La Colonia Española" and the Clinical Surgical Juan Bruno Zayas. The rest of the province remains in the dark, confirmed Mayeta.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) reported that the total disconnection of the National Electric System (SEN) occurred on Friday morning following the outage of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of the main ones in the country.
The Electric Union (UNE) is working on restoring the system, although there is no short-term solution, as indicated by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz during an appearance on Cuban radio and television on Thursday night.
Marrero confirmed that the situation is "extremely critical" and mentioned that, although a slight improvement is expected after unloading a fuel ship, an immediate solution is not anticipated.
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled under: