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The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a security alert to its citizens this Wednesday following a city-wide blackout that left all of Cuba without electricity since 9:14 AM, due to a failure at one of the country's main power plants.
The notice warns Americans residing on the island or planning to travel there about the risks associated with the lack of electricity, internet, and cellular service.
The diplomatic office urged to plan ahead and stay informed through local media, as by 1:00 PM there was still no estimated time for the restoration of service.
The collapse of the electrical system occurs in a context of increasing instability. The consular office noted that since October 2024, Cubans have been facing ever more frequent and prolonged blackouts, both scheduled and unexpected, which are affecting daily life across the country.
According to the alert, although many hotels, hospitals, and institutions have generators, these do not ensure prolonged operation due to the irregular availability of fuel.
The situation threatens to paralyze essential services if the disruption continues.
"The electrical system remains vulnerable, and there have been additional outages occurring more frequently and for longer durations. Scheduled power cuts happen daily, and unscheduled outages continue across Cuba," the consular site reported.
The energy crisis in Cuba has become a risk factor not only for the local population but also for foreign visitors.
The lack of electrical stability affects all sectors: transportation, commerce, telecommunications, and tourism, in a country that is already going through a severe economic crisis.
The call from the U.S. embassy emphasizes the international mistrust in the Cuban regime's ability to maintain basic services. While local authorities investigate the reasons behind the outage, the island remains engulfed in the uncertainty of a general blackout that once again exposes the fragility of its energy infrastructure.
This Wednesday's blackout marks the fifth national power outage in less than a year, a figure that starkly illustrates the fragility of the National Electric System (SEN) and the regime's inability to resolve a crisis that impacts the daily lives of millions of people.
The new power outage comes just two days after another mass event that affected mainly the eastern part of the country.
On September 7th, a fault in the 220 kV Nuevitas-Tunas line caused a total disconnection of the electrical system from Las Tunas to Guantánamo, leaving millions of Cubans without service.
Frequently asked questions about the energy crisis in Cuba
Why did the nationwide blackout occur in Cuba?
The general blackout in Cuba occurred due to a failure at one of the country's main power plants, leaving the entire island without electricity. Cuba's electrical infrastructure is in a critical state due to a lack of maintenance, fuel shortages, and technological obsolescence, making such events increasingly frequent.
How does the energy crisis affect daily life in Cuba?
The energy crisis severely affects all aspects of daily life in Cuba. Prolonged blackouts interrupt essential services such as transportation, commerce, telecommunications, and tourism. Furthermore, the lack of electricity complicates food preservation and access to water, exacerbating the food and health crisis that the country is already facing.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has attempted to implement "microsystems" to meet the electricity demand in some regions, but these measures have not been sufficient to resolve the crisis. The lack of investment in infrastructure and the shortage of fuel continue to be major obstacles, and the government has not put forward an effective plan to modernize the National Electric System (SEN) and ensure a reliable electricity supply.
What has been the international reaction to the blackouts in Cuba?
The international community, including the United States Embassy in Havana, has expressed concern over the situation in Cuba. The U.S. embassy has issued security alerts to its citizens, warning about the risks associated with the lack of electricity and telecommunications. Additionally, international media have highlighted the fragility of the Cuban electrical system and the regime's inability to resolve the crisis.
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