Old Havana once again became the scene of public outrage this weekend, as residents recorded video footage detailing the extreme conditions in which they are living, without electricity, gas, or drinking water.
“Until when is this going to happen? We're tired,” was heard being repeated by several people in a recording made by the independent media CubaNet, which quickly circulated on Instagram and other social networks.
The testimonies reflected the frustration that has built up over years of crisis, which has been exacerbated in recent weeks by prolonged blackouts, breakdowns in supply systems, and heavy rains.
“They are making us suffer… without gas, without electricity, and without food. No one can endure this”, said a resident, while another woman added angrily: “I’m tired, I’m about to explode”.
The images showed entire families improvising solutions to cook with firewood and endure the heat without fans or refrigeration. "When it's not the water, it's the electricity; when it's not that, it's the food. In this country, one never knows how they will manage to stay afloat," lamented a neighbor.
The situation is set against the backdrop of a national energy crisis that halts water pumping to the capital and leaves municipalities like Old Havana, Central Havana, Cerro, and October 10th subjected to daily outages.
The state-owned company Aguas de La Habana recently acknowledged multiple breakdowns in the pipelines of the Southern Basin and in the systems of Guanabacoa and San Miguel del Padrón, attributed to electrical instability.
In parallel, failures at the Naranjito substation and low generation availability caused new massive blackouts in the capital this Sunday. The Electric Company of Havana acknowledged that it was necessary to urgently cut more than 200 MW, which affected neighborhoods already struggling with water and gas shortages.
Social media amplified the cries of the people of Havana. "Without food, without water, without light, without life, the day-to-day is a constant suffering", wrote an internet user on the Instagram of the mentioned outlet.
Others openly called for protest: “Come on, everyone, let's stage a coup tomorrow; we are more,” commented a user.
Desperation lives alongside the faith of those who appeal to resistance. "May God have mercy on Cuba", published another user, while messages of solidarity from abroad called for "resistance, you will soon be free."
The scenario is reminiscent of what occurred in Gibara, Holguín, where recent protests against blackouts resulted in arrests and police operations. In Old Havana, no arrests have been reported yet, but discontent is growing.
"Everyone to the street", shouted several neighbors in the video, summarizing the frustration of a population living in darkness, thirst, and the uncertainty of a system unable to guarantee basic services.
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