Lesly Morales, a Cuban resident, shared a video on Facebook documenting how she and her family set up a camping tent and mosquito net on Guanabo Beach, located east of Havana, to spend the night outdoors. This unconventional solution was chosen to escape the unbearable heat and swarms of mosquitoes resulting from ongoing power outages.
The video, posted on Facebook, depicts a green and gray dome tent on the sand beside a white mosquito net and personal belongings. Accompanying the video was the caption: "Escaping the blackout, we woke up on Guanabo Beach."
With over 21,800 views, 552 likes, and 65 comments, the post became a stark illustration of the desperation experienced by countless Cuban families amid a relentless energy crisis during the summer months.
Desperate Measures in Desperate Times
Beyond its anecdotal nature, the scene highlights the severe crisis facing Cubans, who are driven to seek desperate and sometimes unusual solutions like sleeping on the beach to escape the frequent blackouts.
Guanabo, 27 kilometers east of Havana in the municipality of East Havana, is the longest beach on Havana's Atlantic coast, with five kilometers of shoreline and a population exceeding 15,000 residents.
Even before this video emerged, the area was already grappling with its own challenges. Martí Noticias reported that life in Guanabo involves coping with blackouts, water shortages, and waste management issues.
Widespread Power Cuts and Their Impact
In June 2026, Havana experienced blackouts lasting between 20 and 24 hours daily, with some neighborhoods reporting only two hours of electricity over four days.
In Matanzas, power outages stretched to 85 consecutive hours between June 14 and June 17.
The national electricity deficit exceeds 1,900 MW during peak hours, leaving over 65% of the country without power when demand is highest, according to multiple reports.
With temperatures ranging from 75°F to 88°F and high humidity, nights without fans or air conditioning become unbearable.
Cubans have voiced on social media that they suffer from back pain due to inadequate sleep, and their aspirations have dwindled to the basics: "Sleeping eight hours and drinking cold water."
Improvised Solutions Amid Energy Crisis
Another Cuban summed up the situation with a widely shared phrase: "Here, they don't even give you explanations anymore, fifty, eighty, however many hours without light."
Unable to sleep in their homes, Cubans have resorted to makeshift strategies: homemade fans with ice, bicycle-powered fans, and, as seen in Guanabo, camping tents and mosquito nets directly on the beach.
The contrast is particularly striking: while the population endures hot nights without electricity, tourist hotels controlled by GAESA in Varadero and Cayo Coco maintain a steady power supply with their generators.
Cuba's energy crisis has been brewing for decades due to structural neglect, aging power plants, and shortages of imported fuel, all direct consequences of 67 years of a dictatorial regime managing the national electric system.
A Cuban resident encapsulated the mood with a warning echoed by many: "You'll wake up feeling depressed with these blackouts."
Cuban Energy Crisis: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary causes of the Cuban energy crisis?
The Cuban energy crisis is largely due to decades of structural neglect, aging power plants, and shortages of imported fuel, all exacerbated by the centralized management under a dictatorial regime.
How are Cubans coping with extended power outages?
Cubans have resorted to various improvisations, such as using homemade fans with ice, bicycle-powered fans, and setting up camping tents and mosquito nets on beaches to escape the heat and mosquitoes.
Why is there a contrast in electricity availability between Cuban residents and tourist hotels?
Tourist hotels, particularly those controlled by GAESA in areas like Varadero and Cayo Coco, have access to their own power generators, ensuring a constant electricity supply, unlike the general population.