On Saturday afternoon, a severe local storm wreaked havoc in Santa Clara, cutting off electricity to more than 40% of the city and the nearby municipalities of Placetas and Camajuaní. The storm's impact on the Santa Clara Industrial substation, a crucial component of the region's power supply, resulted in a widespread blackout.
Entire neighborhoods were plunged into darkness, complicating operations in hospitals, particularly in areas providing essential services, which alarmed residents. Official spokesman Henry Omar Pérez reported that the storm caused a collapse of 110 and 34.5-kilovolt lines, disabling several critical circuits. Communities such as Maleza, Cebadero, and Latius, along with parts of the Sandino neighborhood and the highway to Camajuaní, were severely affected.
In the early hours, numerous social media users reported an explosion near the city's power generators, escalating concerns among locals. However, Pérez later clarified that there was no explosion; instead, a luminous arc occurred due to high-tension cables making contact on a 33 KV line. The resulting glow was visible from various parts of the city, adding to the confusion.
Impact on Essential Services
The blackout had an immediate effect on hospitals and medical facilities, leaving them with interrupted services or operating under precarious conditions. Residents reported that some patients were put at risk due to delays in restoring power in critical areas.
Challenges in Restoring Power
Provincial Electric Company crews are working diligently to restore service, but the incident once again highlights the fragility of Cuba's electrical system in the face of increasingly frequent and intense weather events.
Recurring Weather Challenges
The events in Santa Clara are part of a series of recent incidents involving rain, flooding, and severe local storms across various provinces. These episodes reveal the growing vulnerability of the population to atmospheric instability and the deteriorating state of national infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions on Cuba's Electrical Challenges
What caused the power outage in Santa Clara?
The power outage in Santa Clara was caused by a severe local storm that affected the Santa Clara Industrial substation, leading to a collapse of key electrical lines.
Was there an explosion in Santa Clara during the storm?
There was no explosion. The confusion arose from a luminous arc caused by high-tension cables coming into contact, which many mistook for an explosion.