Residents of 2nd, 4th, and 11th Streets in the neighborhood of Mariana de la Torre, in Santiago de Cuba, reported this Sunday that they have been without electricity for approximately 48 hours due to a fault in the wiring of a high-capacity transformer, according to a report by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
According to testimonies received by Mayeta Labrada, the transformer cable is said to have broken, and several homes have been without electricity for two days.
The explanation that the Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba would have given to those affected is the alleged lack of the necessary cable to carry out the repair, a justification that the neighbors reject after having waited in vain for 48 hours.
In addition to the delays, residents reported alleged suggestions of payment to expedite the work. Mayeta Labrada himself clarified that this accusation could not be independently verified, which is why he urged the state company to publicly explain what is happening.
"Meanwhile, behind those windows, there are families who have been waiting for two days for something as basic as a repair," wrote the journalist, who also questioned possible pressures not to publish certain complaints.
The situation in Mariana de la Torre is not an isolated case. This very Sunday, residents of the 18-story buildings in Garzón —the complex known as Centro Urbano Sierra Maestra, on Victoriano Garzón Avenue— reported nearly 40 hours without electricity. In these towers, the lack of power paralyzes the elevators and water pumping turbines, forcing the elderly, sick, and children to climb up to 18 floors via the stairs and carry water from the street.
A neighbor from the 10th floor of that complex described the situation starkly: "Here, there are elderly people, sick individuals, and children who can't sleep at night. Everything in these buildings is more complicated. It makes you want to cry in front of God to see how the elderly and children have to climb all those stairs."
The pattern of transformer failures that leave entire communities without electricity for days is recurring in Santiago de Cuba. In July, residents of Veguita de Galo reported 26 consecutive days without power due to a transformer failure; the replacement unit installed by the company exploded in less than two hours of operation. That same month, a 12-story building in Santa Clara was without light or water for over 112 hours due to the same electrical pumping issue.
Local outages are adding to a structural deficit in the National Electroenergetic System (SEN), which has reached critical levels in 2026. This Sunday, the SEN reported only 1,010 MW of availability compared to a projected demand of 3,250 MW, with a maximum forecasted shortfall of 2,125 MW. Cuba has experienced seven total collapses of the electrical system so far this year.
In Santiago de Cuba, the crisis progressively worsened throughout 2026. As of June 15, the local Electric Company reorganized power outages in nine residential blocks, leaving each area with only one or two hours of electricity per day. Three days later, the company itself admitted that it couldn't even guarantee that minimum.
In light of this situation, Mayeta Labrada concluded her complaint with a direct call to the responsible entity: "Come on, Electric Company of Santiago de Cuba: fewer excuses and more solutions. Fix it already."
Related videos:
Filed under: