Cubans Face Long Blackout and Protests

In Havana, people were getting restless. It had been four days without electricity, and Hurricane Oscar was just making things worse. The power plant failure on Friday had caused a major blackout, leaving people with no light, no water, and a lot of spoiled food. Some took to the streets, banging pots and pans in protest. Mary Karla, a mother of three, said it was unfair to the children. The energy minister promised power might return on Monday or Tuesday, but the hurricane was causing more trouble.

Some neighborhoods got electricity back, but most of Havana was still dark. People were cooking on the streets to save their food. The blackout was one of the worst since Hurricane Ian hit in 2022. The government had announced emergency measures, like closing schools and shutting down workplaces, to save power. Old power plants were breaking down, and there wasn't enough fuel to run them. Neighbors like Rosa Rodríguez were struggling. "We have so many problems, and none are solved, " she said.

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