A 22-year-old man identified as Dalian Segura Venegas, known by the alias "El Oju", is in critical condition after receiving a powerful electric shock early Saturday morning in the Versalles area of Santiago de Cuba.
The independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared the details on Facebook after receiving testimonies from several residents of Santiago.
According to sources, the incident occurred while the young man was allegedly attempting to extract dielectric oil from a transformer located high up on an electric pole, when the power supply was suddenly restored and the discharge caused him to fall from several meters in height.
Dalian suffered third-degree burns on various parts of his body and was urgently transferred to a specialized hospital. Several testimonies agree that his condition is critical, although Cuban authorities have not issued any official report regarding his health status.
The young man was not alone at the time of the incident: according to sources, the person accompanying him fled after the discharge occurred, although other testimonies indicate that they were captured in the area.
Local residents report that Dalian lay on the ground for a while before receiving assistance. The shock also caused an explosion and significant damage that left several areas of Versalles without electricity, with the Electric Company failing to respond and repair the damage hours after the incident.
This case adds to a series of fatal incidents linked to the theft of dielectric oil in Santiago de Cuba.
On May 9, 2026, a man died from electrocution while attempting to steal oil in El Cobre. On April 11, another man died and a second suffered severe burns following the explosion of a transformer in Songo La Maya.
In September 2025, another man lost his life on the Siboney Road under similar circumstances.
The theft of dielectric oil has become a national epidemic driven by the severe energy crisis.
This fluid acts as an insulator and coolant in transformers. Its extraction irreparably damages the equipment and can leave communities without electricity for days or weeks.
The Cuban regime classifies these thefts as sabotage to the National Electric System through Resolution 475/2025 of the People's Supreme Court, with penalties ranging from seven to 30 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty in the most serious cases.
Mayeta Labrada clarified that the information “is based on testimonies and is still being developed.”
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