A neighbor from the El Palenque neighborhood in San Antonio de los Baños published a video on Facebook addressed to local authorities to demand explanations for the consecutive nights without electricity in her area.
"Please, to the competent authorities of this town of San Antonio de los Baños. Is there anyone who can explain why there has been no electricity at the Palenque for the past two nights? We have children in wheelchairs, sick individuals, and elderly women dying from respiratory issues. A ten-pound package of chicken spoiled for my great-grandchildren," the woman reported in the 30-second clip.
The message accumulated more than 4,400 reactions on the social network, reflecting the level of identification of thousands of Cubans with that demand.
The most severe energy crisis in the history of Cuba
What El Palenque is experiencing is the everyday face of an unprecedented electrical collapse. On July 10, 2026, the National Electric System recorded its largest historical deficit: 2,341 MW, with only 935 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW, which led to the fourth total blackout of the year.
Among the causes of the blackouts are the obsolescence of the thermal power plants and the chronic shortage of fuel, worsened by the reduction of Venezuelan supply following Nicolás Maduro's capture in January 2026.
While the population suffers the consequences, the response from the leaders has followed a repeated pattern. On July 4, Díaz-Canel responded to the protests with the phrase “play the pot for the neighbors to the north”, attributing the crisis to the U.S. embargo.
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