A Cuban woman named Lianet Nina Yanza shared a video on Facebook this past Friday, expressing her frustration over the ongoing power outages impacting her community. The video quickly gained traction, surpassing 77,800 views, and became one of the most widely shared expressions of the growing discontent surrounding the island's energy crisis.
In the two-minute video, she illustrates a scenario where some areas within the same municipality enjoy almost uninterrupted electricity, while others endure 60 to 90 hours without power. "Folks, they're wearing us out physically and mentally; this is unbearable," she exclaims at the start of her video.
Lianet, who has small children, questions the utility of receiving electricity for such a limited time. "What on earth can I do in just an hour with a small child? It barely gives me time to boil water," she laments.
The video also highlights a message she received from Joel Aguilera, the head of dispatch for the Electric Company in Capdevila. He advised her to be satisfied with two hours of power, adding that "before, they used to get electricity by chance."
She concludes her video with a direct critique of the system, declaring, "This is a failed government."
Public Outcry Over Energy Crisis
The post sparked similar reactions from others. One user, claiming to live in La Lira, Arroyo Naranjo, accused authorities of falsely stating their area has consistent service, when in reality, they receive electricity just once a day, causing food spoilage.
Other commenters attributed the crisis to corruption and poor management of the electrical system. "They're getting richer while people are slowly dying," noted one person, while another called the situation a "lack of respect," implicating corruption among the linemen as part of the issue.
Wider Context of Systemic Failures
The timing of Lianet's video coincided with another critical day for the National Electric System, which reported a deficit nearing its historic high amidst ongoing outages impacting millions of Cubans.
Lianet's video isn't an isolated incident. Recently, another mother shared a photo of herself fanning her five-year-old daughter in the dark, captioned, "All I have are hugs and frustration."
Previously, another woman displayed her refrigerator filled with spoiled food, writing, "You lose the will for everything, you lose strength."
Numerous thermoelectric units remain broken, others are under maintenance, and 106 distributed generation plants are out of service due to lack of fuel.
Amidst this collapse, leader Miguel Díaz-Canel called for "better organization of the outages," while Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy admitted that power cuts would persist throughout 2026, labeling the year as "difficult."
Understanding Cuba's Power Outage Crisis
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily caused by systemic issues such as corruption, poor management of the electrical system, and lack of fuel. Many thermoelectric units are broken or undergoing maintenance, contributing to the crisis.
How are the power outages affecting Cuban citizens?
The outages are causing significant disruptions in daily life, leading to food spoilage, mental and physical exhaustion, and growing frustration among citizens. Limited electricity availability impacts families, especially those with young children.