HAVANA — Cuba’s extensive blackouts extended into their 4th day as Hurricane Oscar crossed the island’s eastern coast with winds and heavy rain.
In Santo Suárez, part of a populated area in southwestern Havana, individuals went into the streets banging pots and pans in demonstration Sunday night. The protesters, who state they have no water either, obstructed the street with trash.
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated in a news conference he hopes the electricalpower grid will be broughtback on Monday or Tuesday earlymorning.
But he stated that Oscar, which made landfall on the eastern coast Sunday night, will bring “an extra hassle” to Cuba’s healing giventhat it will touch a “region of strong (electricity) generation.” Key Cuban power plants, such as Felton in the city of Holguín, and Renté in Santiago de Cuba, are situated in the location.
Oscar lateron deteriorated to a tropical storm however its results were projection to stickaround in the island through Monday.
Some communities had electricalenergy broughtback in Cuba’s capital, where 2 million individuals live, however most of Havana stayed dark. The effect of the blackout goes beyond lighting, as services like water supply likewise depend on electricalenergy to run pumps.
People resorted to cooking with improvised wood stoves on the streets before the food went bad in fridges.
In tears, Ylenis de la Caridad Napoles, mom of a 7-year-old lady, states she is reaching a point of “desperation.”
The failure of the Antonio Guiteras plant on Friday, which triggered the collapse of the island