Residents from the Vista Hermosa neighborhood and Mármol Street in Altamira, Santiago de Cuba, took to the streets on Sunday night, demanding the return of electricity after enduring several hours without power, according to reports shared across social media platforms.
Footage released by activists and independent journalists shows dozens of locals clamoring and banging on metal objects while chanting for the return of "power!" amidst the pitch-black night.
José Daniel Ferrer, an opposition figure and leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the protests were swiftly met by repressive forces. Ferrer highlighted the dire conditions, noting, "Millions of impoverished Cubans lack food, electricity, and medicine, yet there is an abundance of repressive forces."
Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada also shared videos of the demonstration on Instagram, noting that residents of Mármol Street in Altamira took to the streets demanding the restoration of electricity service.
UNPACU's YouTube channel later reported that shortly after the protest began, electricity was reinstated in the area, a move the organization attributed directly to the pressure exerted by the residents.
Power Outages Fuel Growing Discontent
The demonstration comes amid a severe energy crisis marked by daily blackouts lasting over 10 hours in several eastern Cuban provinces. Santiago de Cuba has been one of the hardest-hit areas, exacerbating public dissatisfaction.
The regime led by Miguel Díaz-Canel has remained silent on this latest protest, failing to provide effective solutions to the ongoing electrical crisis and the general decline in living conditions across the island.
Power outage protests have become a prominent expression of public frustration in Cuba. Over recent months, CiberCuba has documented a surge of demonstrations in various provinces, from Havana to the eastern part of the country, where prolonged blackouts have left thousands of families in darkness for extended periods.
In Havana, residents from multiple districts took to the streets in September following the fifth collapse of the National Electric System in less than a year, amid sweltering, powerless nights.
Resilience Amidst Crisis
In the eastern region, the discontent is even more pronounced. Communities in Gibara (Holguín) and Baire, in Contramaestre (Santiago de Cuba), also staged protests in October, fed up with endless blackouts, food shortages, and lack of potable water.
Rather than offering solutions, authorities have responded with police presence and empty rhetoric, as the Electric Union officially acknowledges a generation deficit that condemns the nation to widespread, prolonged outages.
According to the Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC), October 2025 saw over 1,200 civic actions and protests across the island, many related to blackouts, shortages, and repression.
Despite official statements about "gradual system recovery" and "rotating blackouts," Cubans feel the situation is stagnant. In Havana, the government itself confirmed ongoing power cuts, interpreted as a tacit admission that the crisis is here to stay.
In this context of daily desperation, the protest in Vista Hermosa and Altamira, Santiago de Cuba, represents another surge of outrage in a country where each night without light dims the public's patience faster than the regime's power plants fail.
Understanding the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What triggered the protests in Santiago de Cuba?
The protests in Santiago de Cuba were triggered by prolonged power outages, with residents demanding the restoration of electricity after several hours without power.
How did authorities respond to the protest?
Authorities responded to the protest by dispatching repressive forces to the scene. However, the electricity was restored shortly after, which was seen as a response to the residents' pressure.
What is the current situation of the energy crisis in Cuba?
Cuba is facing a severe energy crisis with daily blackouts lasting over 10 hours in several provinces, particularly affecting eastern regions like Santiago de Cuba.