Osmani Rosales Núñez, an employee of the Electric Company in Cárdenas, tragically lost his life on Saturday after being electrocuted while working in the Tenería area between Neptuno and Ceres in the city of Cárdenas, located in Matanzas province.
According to journalist Christian Arbolaez, who shared the news on his Facebook profile, initial reports indicated that Osmani was rushed alive to the Moncada Polyclinic and subsequently transferred to the hospital. Unfortunately, despite medical efforts to revive him, they were unsuccessful.
Osmani had just turned 39 and lived in Cristina and Portilla within the same city of Cárdenas.
A witness at the hospital described the severity of Osmani's injuries in the comments section: "I saw him when he arrived; they did everything possible to revive him, but it was extremely difficult as he was completely burned," the witness recounted.
Risks Behind Every Repair
As Arbolaez summarized in his report, "Behind every blackout, every malfunction, and every fallen wire, there are men working under harsh conditions to restore the limited electricity to homes. This Saturday, one of those men couldn't return home."
The news sparked an outpouring of condolences and outrage on social media, where neighbors and coworkers remembered Osmani as a dedicated worker with a kind heart.
"An excellent worker and a wonderful human being; it's deeply tragic what happened," lamented someone close to the deceased.
Other comments pointedly criticized the working conditions these linemen face. "Incidents like this should be preventable. They work with minimal protective equipment and under significant risk, especially during power outages. Look at what happened to this young man, who likely left behind a grieving family," stated another commenter.
Energy Crisis and Worker Safety
Osmani's death occurs amidst an ongoing energy crisis in Cárdenas, which has led to public protests over power outages lasting more than 26 hours, while in Matanzas, some blackouts have exceeded 67 consecutive hours without electricity.
On the same Saturday of the incident, the Electric Union reported an available capacity of just 1,200 MW against a demand of 2,580 MW, projecting a deficit of 1,780 MW during peak hours.
It is these linemen who are tasked with repairing faults under such extreme pressure, with outdated infrastructure and inadequate protective gear.
This incident is not isolated. In September 2025, a worker was electrocuted in Bauta, Artemisa, and that same month, a lineman was severely electrocuted in the San Miguel del Padrón municipality of Havana, where neighbors had to rescue him due to the absence of firefighters.
In February 2026, an electrician suffered burns at the Havana 220 kV Substation, and since 2022, at least six linemen have died across various provinces in Cuba.
Understanding the Energy Crisis in Cuba
What led to the death of Osmani Rosales Núñez?
Osmani Rosales Núñez died after suffering an electric shock while performing repair work in Cárdenas. Despite being transported to medical facilities, attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Why are linemen in Cuba facing such dangerous conditions?
Linemen in Cuba face dangerous conditions due to outdated infrastructure and a lack of adequate protective equipment, which are exacerbated by the country's ongoing energy crisis.
What is the current energy situation in Cárdenas and Matanzas?
Cárdenas and Matanzas are experiencing severe energy shortages, with power outages lasting over 26 to 67 hours. The Electric Union has reported significant deficits between power supply and demand.