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Cuba Faces Severe Power Crisis Amid Tropical Storm Oscar

The island's national grid collapse coincides with Oscar's landfall, exacerbating humanitarian and economic challenges.

La police et l'armée cubaines interviennent lors d'une manifestation contre une panne de courant, à La Havane, Cuba, le 19 octobre 2024. 
Cars drive on Havana's seafront boulevard Malecon as the country's electrical grid collapsed again on Sunday, according to Cuba's energy and mines ministry, in the latest setback to the government's efforts to restore power to the island, in Havana, Cuba October 20, 2024. REUTERS/Norlys Perez
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Overview

  • Cuba has experienced repeated blackouts over the past four days, affecting approximately 10 million people, following the failure of a major power plant.
  • Tropical Storm Oscar, initially a hurricane, hit eastern Cuba, bringing heavy rains and winds, further complicating efforts to restore power.
  • The Cuban government aims to restore electricity by Tuesday, using smaller regional grids to stabilize the situation temporarily.
  • The blackout and storm have intensified Cuba's existing economic crisis, marked by shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, and have led to public protests.
  • International offers of aid have come from countries including Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Russia, as Cuba grapples with the aftermath of the storm and power failures.