A Cuban mother identified on TikTok as Lucía (@luciamilagros6) shared a heartbreaking testimony about seven days without electricity in Cuba, describing the extreme heat, the mosquitoes, and the distress of not knowing when the power would return.
"Seven days without electricity, heat, mosquitoes, and nights without knowing when the power will return. The heat has been unbearable, but the hardest part is going to bed each night and waking up each morning without knowing when the electricity will come back," Lucía recounted in the video.
The testimony reflects a reality that is repeated across the island: without electricity, there is no water pumping, and the family had to carry water from a cistern for basic household tasks. "Today we carry water from the cistern to wash dishes, bathe, and take care of some things around the house, because that water is not suitable for drinking," he explained.
To cook, the family resorted to methods that the regime has normalized as an alternative in light of the energy collapse. "With a bit of wood, some charcoal, and a lot of determination, we managed to prepare some spaghetti and share it with a few close friends," Lucía said.
In the midst of the crisis, a gesture of solidarity from abroad eased some of the distress. A person named Abril sent bottles of drinking water for Lucía's children. "Thanks to Abril, who was attentive to my kids and sent some bottles of water. In moments like these, those gestures touch the heart," said the mother.
Lucía also highlighted in her video the concern for the most vulnerable: there are children, the elderly, and people who do not have generators or rechargeable fans to withstand the heat of the Caribbean summer.
The case of Lucía is not isolated. Cuba is experiencing the worst energy crisis in its history, with an electricity availability of just 980 MW compared to a demand that exceeds 2,500 MW, according to data from the Electric Union last Thursday.
On May 14, the largest electrical deficit in the country's history was recorded: 2,174 MW, which left 70% of the population without service simultaneously.
On June 4, a fault left 3.4 million people without electricity in Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo. In Havana, power outages typically exceed 20-22 hours daily, while in Granma, circuits have been reported with over 45 consecutive hours without service.
The electrical crisis is dragging along a chain of shortages that hit the most vulnerable. The national hydraulic system operates with only 37% of the fuel needed for pumping, making each blackout a water cutoff. About 2.7 million people suffer from a complete shortage of drinking water, and around 10 million have intermittent supply.
Thousands of families have returned to cooking with charcoal and firewood, a practice that President Miguel Díaz-Canel himself has called to ensure as an alternative in light of the collapse of the electrical system, according to reports on the energy situation on the island.
Lucía closed her video with a reflection that sums up the resilience of those surviving the crisis: “The current will return, but the gestures of affection and solidarity are the things one never forgets. And as long as there are good people, there will always be reasons to keep going.”
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