With temperatures nearing a feels-like 41 degrees, power outages lasting up to 72 hours, a shortage of drinking water for months, and collapsing services, the city of Matanzas feels more like a geographic punishment than a Cuban province, as its residents survive without electricity, gas, mobile coverage, and even the right to express their frustrations publicly.
While official propaganda boasts about "non-shutoff" circuits, the people of Matanzas are experiencing over 20 hours of continuous outages, according to the provincial Electric Company director himself.
However, testimonies from the ground contradict that figure with extreme examples of 30, 40, and even 72 hours without electricity, especially in municipalities like Jovellanos, Unión de Reyes, and Cárdenas, where power outages are virtually permanent, commented young Cuban Zea Gisselle through her Facebook profile, who is a resident of Havana and visiting the western province.
"And if it were only the electricity, at least one could say that in Matanzas they 'live,' but this is much worse... it’s agony," the text emphasized.
He also referred to the lack of drinking water, which has been relentlessly impacting for months, to which he expressed, “I still can't understand how they bathe, how they wash, how they cook... How do they have the will to get up every day and continue to endure the same torment?”.
And this is how part of the daily drama was described: “People go up and down (the city is all hills, just so you know) wheelbarrows, bags, carrying tanks and bottles of water to supply themselves. If you walk a few blocks, you’re likely to stumble upon some basin of water that the neighbors have set up to share the liquid among everyone.”
In many homes, there hasn't been liquefied gas for six months, and without electricity or water, cooking has become a daily struggle.
During the blackouts, there is also no mobile coverage or telephone service, leaving the population cut off, uninformed, and without a real means to complain or express their dissatisfaction.
The residents of Matanzas don't even have the opportunity to "vent" in the provincial Electric Company’s Telegram channel. “They keep them silent, unable to comment on the company's information, they can only react with a like or dislike and that's it, that's how it is, and if you don't like it, deal with it,” Giselle confirmed.
Screenshots are prohibited, and users resort to taking photos of posts with another phone in order to share them. The control is absolute, even over discontent.
The method to find out when electricity will return is not an official report; it's through "word of mouth." Without data connectivity or timely notifications, neighbors learn the schedules through street gossip, whenever someone manages to connect briefly to check the announcements.
The stories emerging from the city are devastating. People don't talk about living; they talk about enduring. When asked how they survive, the answers are a mix of resignation and defeat: “We have to adapt or we die,” “We can't do anything else,” “We are sheep.”
In the comments, pain turns into a cry. "It fills me with such sadness. And the worst part: there is no light at the end of the tunnel, no light of any kind," said a former resident of the province.
Another user urged to break the imposed routine: “Stop everything. Don’t work, don’t send children who are hungry and sleep-deprived to school. Stop the damn country before everyone dies.” But another replied: “They will work because there’s electricity at work, and there they see a moving fan, charge lamps, phones... it’s nonsense.”
The cybernaut herself lamented a situation that her family "suffers daily; my mother and my aunt have lost a considerable amount of weight, but at the same time, they do not understand the purpose of reporting anything that is happening."
Yudlema, for her part, confirmed the information blockade: “The only Telegram channel of the Electric Company where interaction is still possible is the one in the capital. It has been this way for a long time. If you enter the one for Artemisa, it’s not possible: you can’t intervene, forward what is posted there, take screenshots... Nothing, it’s national security information.”
Fernando summed it up starkly: “When people from the capital come to the provinces... until you live it, you don’t understand the true extent of the misery.” For her part, Rouslyn admitted that she was “surviving alongside my friends during a short visit, which could almost be classified as tourism to hell. Because I return to my home in Havana and leave all the drama behind to live my own, which, compared to this, is mild.”
Frequently asked questions about the energy crisis in Matanzas and Cuba
What is the current situation regarding power outages in Matanzas?
Matanzas faces power outages of up to 72 hours, with areas that barely receive electricity. The energy crisis in the province is severe, impacting the daily lives of its residents.
How are the people of Matanzas coping with the lack of electricity and water?
The residents of Matanzas are forced to climb up and down hills with wheelbarrows and water tanks to supply themselves. Without electricity or water, cooking and performing basic tasks have become a daily challenge.
Is there any official communication regarding the blackouts in Matanzas?
Official communication is limited. The Electric Company of Matanzas has reported a rotation of 3 hours of service for every 6 hours of blackout, but uncertainty persists due to the instability of the electrical system.
What impact do these blackouts have on the daily lives of Cubans?
Prolonged blackouts have interrupted everyday life, affecting health, access to food, and the ability to communicate. The lack of electricity also impacts hospitals and essential services, exacerbating the social and economic crisis.
What measures has the Cuban government taken to address the energy crisis?
The government has promised to incorporate more photovoltaic generation and carry out maintenance on thermoelectric plants, but no effective short-term solutions have been offered and blackouts continue to affect the population.
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