A Cuban mother named Dayany Sol Lopez took to Facebook to share an open letter addressed to the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel. Her heartfelt message was accompanied by a photo of her baby sleeping on a daycare cot, seemingly placed in the patio or entrance of their home, unable to rest in his crib due to the unbearable heat following 48 hours without electricity.
"President, how do I explain to my baby that his fan isn't working because we've been enduring 48 hours reporting an outage and still no response?" the distressed mother wrote.
She continued, "How do I tell him he can't sleep in his crib because the heat will keep him awake, and he has to sleep by the door in hopes of catching a breeze?"
Her plea culminates with a powerful statement challenging the official rhetoric: "President, my son doesn't understand what it means to endure, and he doesn't comprehend the mess of a country we live in."
Cuba's Electrical Crisis Escalates
The post comes at a critical point in Cuba's worst electrical crisis in decades. On July 8, a historic deficit of 2,341 MW was recorded, with only 1,000 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW.
The National Electric System has completely collapsed seven times over the past 18 months, suffering three nationwide blackouts in 2026 alone.
Regions like Matanzas have endured up to 87 consecutive hours without power, Granma was entirely cut off on July 4, and Havana is experiencing outages lasting between 20 and 30 hours daily.
The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in the country, was disconnected for the 17th time this year on July 3.
Widespread Outrage Among Cuban Mothers
Dayany Sol Lopez's situation is not unique. Since May 2026, there has been a surge in complaints from Cuban mothers about the suffering of babies and children due to extreme heat without ventilation.
Subdraine Portales expressed her desperation on June 3, stating, "I'm a mother and I can't take it anymore," highlighting insect bites on her baby.
Sinaí Arencibia shared that her daughter hadn't slept for more than three nights because of the heat. A nine-month-old baby sustained burns while his family endured power outages.
Discrepancy Between Official Rhetoric and Reality
The stark contrast with the official narrative is striking. On July 3, Díaz-Canel confidently proclaimed in an interview with Puerto Rican weekly CLARIDAD: "I am convinced we will overcome this, we will move forward, and we will not surrender."
During the closing of the third extraordinary session of Parliament, the president urged the people to "endure" the power cuts, labeling them as "barbaric punishment."
It is precisely that word—endure—that Dayany Sol Lopez throws back unflinchingly: her infant son cannot grasp its meaning, and she struggles to explain it to him.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outages
What is causing the frequent power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to a failing energy infrastructure, with a deficit of energy supply compared to demand. This has led to frequent collapses of the National Electric System.
How are Cuban families coping with the power crisis?
Many Cuban families are struggling with the extreme heat and lack of ventilation due to power outages. Mothers have voiced concerns about their children's health and wellbeing.
What measures are being taken to address the power crisis?
Despite government claims of overcoming the crisis, there seems to be limited progress in resolving the underlying issues of the energy infrastructure and supply shortages.