Sofii Magdaleno, a Cuban content creator living in Guanabo, East Havana, has voiced her outrage over the ongoing crises in Cuba, questioning how much longer the people can endure such hardships.
Amidst power outages that lasted over two days, the young woman used the remaining battery on her mobile phone to record and post a video on Facebook. Her message of frustration is one shared by thousands of Cubans.
"They cut off the electricity two days ago, turned it on today for 20 minutes, and then shut it off again. This is the MB960 circuit in Guanabo, East Havana. I want to know just how far they're going to push us," she stated.
The video addresses more than just power cuts. Sofii highlights a triple shortage that has become the norm in her neighborhood: electricity outages lasting up to three days, lack of water for bathing, washing dishes, and cooking, and an upcoming school year that the regime insists on starting despite these conditions.
"And they're still talking about the start of the school year, give me a break," she exclaimed with indignation.
Her video has garnered over 15,600 views and numerous comments echoing similar sentiments from other parts of the country.
"And we can't even iron the school uniforms, what kind of school start is this? I'm speechless," one follower commented.
Another person noted, "Oh, my friend, we've been without water for three months." An online user summarized the collective despair: "Exactly, what school are they talking about under these conditions? We can't even sleep well with the heat and mosquitoes."
Deepening Energy and Water Crises
In July, Sofii shared a heartbreaking account of the power outages, showing her defrosted refrigerator and describing life under these circumstances as "living like animals."
The energy situation has only worsened. On September 1, Cuba started the school year in darkness. The Electric Union reported an available generation of just 960 MW compared to a demand of 2,910 MW, resulting in a projected shortfall of 2,280 MW.
Even the Minister of Education acknowledged a "dramatic start" to the academic year.
The water crisis compounds the situation. Since April, power outages that halt water pumps have left hundreds of thousands of Cubans without regular water supply.
By July, Havana Water specialists reported that more than 500,000 people were affected. In August, a hydraulic infrastructure failure simultaneously left six capital municipalities without water.
The Electric Union had warned weeks prior that blackouts would worsen from September to December due to overlapping thermoelectric unit maintenance or failures, making it even harder to foresee an end to the nightmare Sofii Magdaleno described with her poignant words: "I'll see how much longer the people will keep enduring this."
Understanding the Cuban Energy and Water Crisis
What is causing the frequent power outages in Cuba?
The power outages are primarily due to an insufficient electricity generation capacity, with the Electric Union reporting a significant shortfall between generation and demand. Maintenance issues and failures of thermoelectric units exacerbate the problem.
How has the water crisis affected daily life in Cuba?
The water crisis has severely impacted daily activities, as power outages halt water pumps, leaving many without regular water supply for bathing, cooking, and cleaning. This has affected over 500,000 people in certain areas.
How are Cubans reacting to the ongoing crises?
Cubans are expressing frustration and despair over the continuous hardships, using social media platforms to share their experiences and demand change. The ongoing crises have led to widespread discontent across the country.