As Hurricane Oscar devastates eastern Cuba, leaving six dead and thousands of homes damaged, widespread power outages and economic struggles add to the island’s misery.
Hurricane Oscar has claimed the lives of at least six people in Cuba, President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed, as the storm wreaked havoc on the eastern region of the island. The hurricane made landfall as a Category 1 storm near the city of Baracoa on Sunday afternoon, before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved inland. Guantánamo province was hit hardest, with over 1,000 homes severely damaged by strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Oscar’s arrival came during a nationwide power outage that left nearly 10 million Cubans in darkness. President Díaz-Canel reported that, as of early Tuesday, some areas remained inaccessible due to flooding and storm damage, and efforts were underway to reach isolated communities. The municipalities of San Antonio and Imías were particularly affected, with historic flooding levels recorded.
All six fatalities occurred in San Antonio, though authorities have yet to provide details on how they died. Meanwhile, meteorologists have warned that as Oscar moves northeastward, it could trigger flash flooding in parts of the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The hurricane compounded Cuba’s ongoing electricity crisis, which sparked rare public protests. In a country where unauthorized demonstrations are prohibited, frustrated residents in areas still without power banged pots and pans in the streets, chanting for electricity to be restored. Some have been without power since Friday, enduring oppressive heat without access to cold water or functioning refrigerators.
“We have no cold water, the food has spoiled, and the children are suffering,” one woman told Reuters. Another man shared that his 85-year-old grandmother had been asking for cold water for days. The nationwide blackout was triggered by the failure of Cuba’s largest power plant last week, plunging the island into darkness. Power cuts are not uncommon, but this widespread outage has left many Cubans exasperated.
President Díaz-Canel blamed the crisis on the U.S. trade embargo, which has severely hampered Cuba’s ability to import fuel and supplies. He pledged that the government would work tirelessly to restore electricity, but as power outages drag on, public patience is wearing thin.
Cuba’s problems extend beyond power shortages, as the island grapples with its worst economic crisis in 30 years. Shortages of food, fuel, and basic supplies have pushed many families to the brink. With Hurricane Oscar’s damage now adding to the strain, the road to recovery looks increasingly challenging for the Cuban people.
(Associated Medias) – All rights reserved