A weary group of Havana residents, having endured over seven hours at bus stops without a single bus arriving, took matters into their own hands by walking through the Havana Bay tunnel. This incident was confirmed on Facebook by Cuban activist Yamilka Lafita, known as Lara Crofs, on Saturday.
Crofs recounted the situation as "a harsh reality" she encountered upon returning home. Alongside other private drivers, she made two trips to transport stranded individuals across the bay for free. However, a policeman fined them for "obstructing traffic" as one driver assisted a mother and her young daughter.
"Things got really heated," wrote the activist, describing the capital's conditions as "desperate": enduring over 40 hours of blackout for every three hours of electricity, skyrocketing charcoal prices, a gas canister costing $50, and a water truck delivery reaching 50,000 Cuban pesos.
The fine imposed on those helping sparked immediate outrage in the comments of the post. "How can they fine someone for helping? They should be grateful," one person commented.
Another added, "It's horrible, but the worst part is the silence and everyone saying, 'What can we do? If we protest, they beat us up.'"
Crofs concluded her post with a warning reflecting the mood of many in Havana: "My neighborhood is gearing up for protests; the sound of banging pots is starting to echo."
Severe Transportation Reductions and Fuel Shortages
This incident occurred shortly after the regime implemented the harshest cuts to national transport since the energy crisis began, reducing interprovincial buses to three weekly routes and long-distance trains to the east running once every 16 days.
The root cause of the transportation collapse is the fuel shortage. Between December 2025 and April 2026, Cuba received no imported crude following the suspension of shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, resulting in a 93% drop in state-run passenger transport from January to September 2025.
The most criticized paradox by Cubans happened on May 22, when the regime mobilized dozens of state buses for a political rally supporting Raúl Castro at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune, while public transport remained at a standstill for the general populace.
Historical Context and Public Unrest
This is not the first time the 733-meter-long tunnel, connecting the city center to eastern municipalities, has highlighted the crisis. In June 2025, a bus on route A40 ran out of fuel inside the tunnel, forcing passengers, including children, to walk out.
Public dissatisfaction is boiling over on social media. On Saturday, residents of Regla banged pots in protest against power outages exceeding 30 consecutive hours, with similar cacerolazos intensifying in several Havana neighborhoods like Carlos III, San Miguel del Padrón, La Güinera, and Santos Suárez.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,311 protests in May, with electricity being the primary catalyst.
Key Questions About Cuba's Transport and Energy Crisis
What led to the severe cuts in Cuba's transportation services?
The severe reductions in transportation services in Cuba are primarily due to a fuel shortage caused by the suspension of imported crude from Venezuela and Mexico between December 2025 and April 2026.
How have Havana residents responded to the transportation and energy crisis?
Havana residents have resorted to protesting, with actions like banging pots to express their frustration over long power outages and inadequate transportation services.
What impact has the fuel shortage had on public transport in Cuba?
The fuel shortage led to a dramatic 93% decline in state-run passenger transport between January and September 2025, severely impacting the availability and frequency of transportation services.