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Power Outage in Holguín: Neighborhood Left in the Dark for 24 Hours Due to Tree Pruning Mishap

Friday, June 13, 2025 by Isabella Sanchez

Power Outage in Holguín: Neighborhood Left in the Dark for 24 Hours Due to Tree Pruning Mishap
Blackout on Rastro Street, Holguin. - Image by © CiberCuba

This past Wednesday, a mishap by the Electric Company left residents of Rastro Street in Holguín without power for an entire day. The company's workers were dispatched to prune trees in the area, aiming to prevent potential power disruptions during hurricanes or heavy rains. Unfortunately, their efforts backfired when they accidentally severed a power line, plunging the neighborhood into darkness for 24 hours.

One affected resident, who wished to remain anonymous, reported the incident to CiberCuba. The power outage spanned from Wednesday to Thursday, affecting a stretch of approximately 70 to 80 meters along Rastro Street, located behind the city’s Ateneo. According to the resident, a team from the Electric Company arrived for routine tree trimming as part of cyclone season precautions. However, in an unfortunate twist, they cut an electrical cable and left the site without addressing the issue.

Community Left Stranded Without Electricity

The resident explained, "We were supposed to have a scheduled power rotation, with an outage from 6:00 a.m. to noon, followed by electricity from noon to 6:00 p.m. But that didn’t happen for us. This section, home to young children and bedridden elders, was left without power starting at 6 a.m." The situation was exacerbated by the lack of liquefied gas for over three months, hindering any cooking or household activities.

Electric Company’s Response Under Scrutiny

The situation became more frustrating when, around 10:00 a.m., a vehicle from the Electric Company briefly appeared to place a device known as a "caballito" near the fallen cable. Yet, no efforts were made to assess or fix the problem. "After numerous calls, we were told that six meters of copper cable were needed," the resident shared. "But who reported this? No one has shown up. Or is someone trying to exploit our situation for their gain?"

The resident voiced their outrage, describing the ordeal as an "unbelievable disrespect," pointing out that the community endured a full day without power after the incident. By the time of this report, the electricity service had been restored, after the neighborhood remained powerless from 6:00 a.m. Wednesday to 6:00 a.m. Thursday.

Ongoing Energy Crisis in Cuba

This incident is but one example of the more extensive energy crisis plaguing Cuba this June. The nation has been grappling with frequent blackouts, exacerbated by planned maintenance, breakdowns at critical power plants like Felton and Antonio Guiteras, and a severe shortage of fuel for distributed generation. These factors have necessitated strict electricity rotation schedules, with some areas experiencing power cuts exceeding 10 or even 12 hours daily.

The Cuban regime has assured that the situation will improve starting in July, though similar promises were made in 2024, which went unfulfilled.

Common Questions About Power Outages in Cuba

What caused the power outage in Holguín?

The power outage was caused by an accidental cutting of an electrical cable by the Electric Company during tree pruning operations on Rastro Street.

How long did the power outage in Holguín last?

The power outage lasted 24 hours, from 6:00 a.m. Wednesday to 6:00 a.m. Thursday.

What is contributing to Cuba's current energy crisis?

Cuba's energy crisis is due to a mix of planned maintenance, failures at major power plants, and a lack of fuel for distributed generation, leading to frequent and prolonged blackouts.

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