In the early hours of the morning, precisely at 2:27 a.m., a Cuban father captured a raw and emotional video during a power outage, as his children slept on the floor to escape the stifling heat and relentless mosquitoes. This video has become a stark representation of the dire electricity crisis gripping Cuba this summer.
Alfredito Fominaya, a well-known content creator on social media, recorded the video without any edits, constrained only by his phone's battery life. The footage reveals his children sprawled on sheets on the floor in a modest room with turquoise walls, suffering through the sweltering heat without electricity.
Fominaya, directly addressing the camera, questioned, "Why should I endure this? For what reason? Am I supposed to keep being revolutionary, continue being a communist, and just endure this? For what purpose?" His words challenge the official regime narrative that demands resilience from the Cuban people amidst the crisis.
Showing visible distress, he continued, "This is the summer we're giving our children. A summer where they must sleep on the floor, endure unbearable heat, and suffer through mosquito bites. Is this really what we should be fighting for?"
Rejecting the Official Narrative
The Havana resident firmly dismissed the rhetoric of resilience propagated by regime officials through state media: "We cannot keep asking the Cuban people to endure this. What we need is freedom. We need an end to this misery."
Fominaya expressed that his faith is his only source of strength in this situation: "I can assure you that for a long time, the hope sustaining me has been God. Knowing that God is in control and has a different destiny planned."
The video concludes with a heartfelt prayer: "Lord, end communism, end the wickedness, and bring an end to the long-standing suffering of the Cuban people. May God bless Cuba with freedom."
Widespread Impact and Growing Frustration
Fominaya's video adds to a growing wave of similar testimonies. Earlier this week, a Cuban mother shared images of her children sleeping on the floor beneath mosquito nets, declaring, "We hold the Guinness record for endurance." On June 22, another father shared a photo of his children sleeping on the porch after enduring more than 24 hours without power.
This summer, Cuba is experiencing its most severe electricity crisis in decades. Power outages in Havana last between 20 and 24 hours daily, while Matanzas suffered interruptions lasting up to 85 consecutive hours from June 14 to June 17.
On June 17, the generation shortfall exceeded 2,080 MW, leaving 69% of the nation without power. That day, 106 distribution centers were offline due to fuel shortages.
The human toll is devastating: power outages have forced entire families to sleep on porches and sidewalks, nearly 100,000 patients are awaiting surgeries due to lack of electricity — including 5,000 cancer patients — and the government was compelled to close schools early from June 15 to June 30.
Fominaya's Continued Advocacy
This isn't the first time Fominaya's criticisms of the regime have gone viral. In March 2026, he publicly responded to Silvio Rodríguez following the symbolic presentation of an AKM rifle as an act of "cultural resistance," and in May, he released another video criticizing the official signature campaign while also exposing threats from State Security.
Summing up the sentiments of thousands of Cubans facing the heat, mosquitoes, and darkness this summer without any resolution from the regime, Fominaya wrote in his post, "What we are living today will not last forever. No more resilience, no more misery, enough is enough. May God have mercy on the Cuban people."
Understanding Cuba's Electricity Crisis
What is causing the electricity crisis in Cuba?
Cuba is facing severe electricity shortages due to outdated infrastructure, lack of fuel, and inefficient power generation systems, which have been exacerbated by economic constraints and mismanagement by the government.
How are Cuban families affected by the power outages?
Cuban families are severely impacted by the power outages, which force them to endure extreme heat without air conditioning or fans, and increased mosquito exposure. Many have to sleep on floors or outside to cope with the conditions.
What measures are being taken to address the crisis?
The Cuban government has not provided a concrete solution to the electricity crisis. Calls from citizens for increased freedom and better management have been met with resistance from the regime, leaving many without clear resolutions.