A lightning strike has cut off electricity to several areas in the Santo Domingo municipality of Villa Clara.
The official journalist Henry Omar Pérez reported on Facebook that the lightning hit the Cascajal substation, causing damage to the transformer that supplies the Popular Council area, which also includes the communities of Jiqui, Triángulo, and Punta Felipe.
According to Pérez, specialists from the province's substations have assessed the transformer and concluded that it needs to be replaced.
Efforts to locate a replacement transformer began last night, with plans to install it immediately upon arrival.
Government authorities are attempting to mitigate the situation by preparing food in Gastronomy to offer to the population and coordinating the delivery of water trucks.
Widespread Blackouts Plague Cuba
Blackouts continue to disrupt daily life for millions of Cubans this Sunday, with the National Electric System (SEN) experiencing a deficit exceeding 1,000 MW and demand far outstripping the island's actual generation capacity.
The Electric Union (UNE) reported that service interruptions persisted throughout the previous day and into the early hours of Sunday, with peak outages reaching 1,404 MW at 7 p.m.
Additionally, damage from Hurricane Melissa is keeping 405 MW offline in provinces stretching from Las Tunas to Guantánamo.
As of 6 a.m. Sunday, total availability stood at 1,560 MW against a demand of 2,250 MW, resulting in a shortfall of around 800 MW due to insufficient capacity.
The UNE projected that if conditions remain unchanged, the peak hour impact could reach 1,380 MW.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the recent power outage in Villa Clara?
A lightning strike damaged a transformer at the Cascajal substation, affecting several communities in the Santo Domingo municipality.
How is the government addressing the power outage?
Authorities are working to replace the damaged transformer and are providing food and water to affected residents.
What is the extent of the blackouts in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing significant blackouts, with a deficit of over 1,000 MW and damage from Hurricane Melissa further complicating power supply.