This Wednesday, a widespread power outage plunged Cuba into darkness, and the situation remains unresolved. Hospitals were particularly hard-hit, with reports of chaos and desperation emerging. In Bayamo, independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada warned that the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Provincial Hospital lost power, and the backup generator failed to activate, forcing the prioritization of only certain areas. "Currently, only some sections have electricity, while others remain in darkness," he noted, as uncertainty engulfed patients and staff.
In Camagüey, exiled reporter José Luis Tan Estrada described a similar scenario at the Oncology Hospital, where doctors and patients resorted to using their phone flashlights. Surgeries were halted, and the generator took over 20 minutes to start, necessitating the shutdown of air conditioning systems.
The Manuel Ascunce Domenech University Hospital in Camagüey issued a statement to try to calm the situation. It acknowledged initial failures but claimed that emergency power restored services, albeit with some partial interruptions during the electrical collapse.
Public Outcry and Government Response
The Cuban populace reacted with outrage and sorrow. "This is shameful, my God, look at the chaos this has caused in a hospital where seriously ill patients are dying," lamented one user on social media, while others criticized the intolerable stress placed on healthcare workers, who are left without medications or basic conditions.
Meanwhile, the official narrative sought to reassure the public. Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña García, acknowledged the suspension of non-urgent surgeries, but confirmed that urgent and emergency cases continue to be addressed. She also admitted that some hospitals have less than 24 hours of fuel, and that water supply remains a significant issue.
Electricity and Infrastructure Concerns
The Electric Union announced that on Thursday, the National Electric System began partial reconnection, with Santiago de Cuba being restored, though provinces like Granma, Guantánamo, and Pinar del Río remain without power.
This blackout, the fifth nationwide in less than a year, once again highlighted the fragility of the energy system and exposed the vulnerability of the hospital network. In the absence of light, these facilities cease to be safe havens and become additional sources of fear and uncertainty for thousands of Cubans.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the power outage in Cuba?
The power outage was a result of failures within Cuba's fragile energy infrastructure, which has been unable to meet the demands of the population.
How are hospitals coping with the power outage?
Hospitals are struggling with limited power supply, relying on backup generators that have been unreliable, leading to the suspension of non-urgent surgeries and creating stressful conditions for healthcare workers.
What is the Cuban government's response to the crisis?
The government has attempted to reassure the public by stating that urgent medical cases are still being handled, although it has acknowledged the limited fuel supply for hospitals and the ongoing water supply issues.