Sheyla Reyes' Viral Tale: 38-Hour Blackout Sparks Trash Fire in Matanzas

Sheyla Reyes, a content creator known as @sheyreyes032, recently took to TikTok to share a glimpse into how her family and neighbors coped with a power outage lasting over 38 hours in Matanzas, Cuba. During this time, a fire broke out on a neighborhood corner. In her video description, she noted, "38 hours without power in Cuba (They set fire to a corner)," which quickly garnered thousands of responses on the platform.

In the video, Sheyla describes the ordeal: "After 38 hours without electricity in Cuba, everyone went outside because a corner was set ablaze. But first, we had to fill our generator with gasoline since it was empty. We use a cloth to filter the fuel because Cuban gasoline is of poor quality. Ultimately, it was the trash bin that caught fire, and the firefighters arrived swiftly to extinguish it."

The entire neighborhood gathered to watch the firefighters at work. Sheyla admitted, "It was my first time seeing something like this, and it really amazed me. The fire was small, so it was all over quite quickly."

Surviving the Blackout

During the blackout, Sheyla tried to make the night feel normal: "I hadn't eaten, so I fried up some plantains, white rice, and pork my mom cooked—it was delicious—along with avocado. Afterward, a nice cup of coffee. That's how we ended the night, my dear. Let me know what you think, kisses."

Later, she posted another video detailing how she managed another 15-hour power cut. "We turned off the generator a little while ago," she explained, highlighting the challenge of charging her phone and accessing cold water: "Drinking even a tiny bit of cold water feels like a blessing." She celebrated briefly when power returned: "When I saw the air conditioner turn on, it was like seeing the heavens open," but her joy was short-lived as the blackout resumed.

Energy Crisis Continues in Cuba

This narrative unfolds amid a national energy crisis, with Cuba experiencing a power deficit exceeding 1,700 megawatts during peak hours, as reported by the Electric Union. The week began with disruptions continuing from Sunday into early Monday, with only 1,960 MW available against a demand of 3,225 MW, leading to widespread, prolonged outages.

The situation worsened due to the Energás Varadero combined cycle plant going offline, cutting 30 MW from the electric system. Additionally, shortages of fuel in 90 distributed generation plants and limited thermal capacity (422 MW) have hindered the ability to meet national demand, despite the addition of 23 solar parks.

Economic Strain and Public Discontent

These extended blackouts intensify the burden on Cuban families already grappling with rampant inflation. Recently, Sheyla reported spending 18,000 pesos on basic groceries, with an avocado costing 500 CUP and a liter of oil 1,000 CUP. "Buying food here is extremely difficult due to the outrageous prices," she commented in a previous video, highlighting the declining purchasing power against wages that are dwarfed by such costs.

Back in June, Sheyla documented another 30-hour blackout in Matanzas, showcasing spoiled food and defrosted refrigerators. "All the fridges defrosted, and the food went bad," she lamented at the time.

The latest video sparked hundreds of reactions, some expressing solidarity, others outrage: "Cubans are too tolerant; that's why the bad government does whatever it wants," one user opined. Others conveyed sadness and frustration: "My God, 38 hours without power, living like this is tough," while some questioned the lack of protests and complacency: "Everything is normal in Cuba, complacency." One comment even joked, "I thought they set the corner on fire protesting the blackouts."

While the government continues to urge energy conservation, citizens endure blackouts that can exceed 30 hours amidst summer heat, food shortages, and a daily climate of uncertainty.