Neighbors of Playa show solidarity with linemen from Sancti Spíritus during the electrical recovery efforts in Havana

Water, a sip of coffee, and plenty of gratitude have been continually offered to the linemen of Sancti Spíritus province, who have worked tirelessly to restore electricity in the Buenavista community of Playa, Havana, following the passage of Hurricane Rafael through western Cuba.

Idalmis Vargas Tamayo, a local resident, told the Cuban News Agency that the food she offered to the electrical workers was accompanied by affection and gratitude.

She also mentioned that seeing them up on the poles for so many hours, working tirelessly, caused significant concern for both her and the other neighbors in the community, which had been severely affected by the fall of numerous poles and trees.

Yanet González Molina, another resident of the area, also supported the linemen from the work brigade in Sancti Spíritus.

The people from Sancti Spíritus arrived in the capital on November 5, before the hurricane made landfall in Artemisa, to assist with recovery efforts following the cyclone, noted José Placencia Ortiz, the head of the brigade.

Placencia emphasized that, amidst the complex situation left by Rafael in Havana, the support of neighbors from this and other communities is vital for its workers.

Although neighborhood solidarity is a beautiful gesture of appreciation towards the brigade from Sancti Spíritus, it does not hide the numerous criticisms directed at the Cuban government for the delays in restoring electricity service in Havana.

More than six days after Hurricane Rafael passed through the western region of Cuba, the situation in Havana remains complex, with thousands of residents still without electricity due to the damage caused by the weather event.

However, the Electric Company of Havana announced on Facebook that, so far, 95% of the city has regained electrical service, benefiting more than 823,000 customers.

Despite the efforts, blackouts continue nationwide due to malfunctions and a shortage in power generation, a situation that worsens the daily lives of Cuban families.

Amid this backdrop, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel visited several areas affected by Hurricane Rafael in Havana on Saturday afternoon, in an effort to oversee the recovery efforts following the damage caused to infrastructure and essential services.

The official account of the Presidency of Cuba on the social media platform X provided updates on the president's visit to various locations in the Cuban capital, including a tour of the Eduardo García Delgado pre-university school, where workers, students, and local residents have been compelled to participate in cleanup and restoration efforts in the area.

This is another attempt by the president to erase the negative perception left by his handling of the crisis in Guantánamo following Hurricane Oscar.