Heavy rains and winds cause landslides and damage as Cuba grapples with a collapsing electricity grid and economic challenges.

HAVANA – Hurricane Oscar unleashed torrential rains and winds of up to 75 mph on Cuba’s eastern region, compounding a national crisis caused by a massive power outage that plunged the entire island into darkness over the weekend.

The storm triggered landslides and ripped roofs from homes in cities like Baracoa, where residents reported dangerous seas and tiles flying from rooftops. These conditions have further hindered engineers working to restore the island’s aging and fragile electricity grid.

As the storm weakened into a tropical depression and moved north toward the Bahamas on Monday, Cuba’s focus shifted to addressing its electrical system’s collapse. Power outages have become increasingly frequent in recent months, leaving many households unable to preserve food, a dire consequence amid soaring inflation and food scarcity.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel, donning the military-style uniform of the National Defence Council—a symbol reserved for national emergencies—appeared publicly to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

The crisis escalated last week when non-essential government workers were sent home in an effort to conserve power. Schools have been closed until Thursday, a rare decision on an island that prioritizes uninterrupted education.

Electricity has been partially restored in central Cuba and parts of Havana, where power began returning on Monday morning. By midday, the government reported that 56% of the capital had power, but skepticism remains about the grid’s stability. Residents criticized the government’s reliance on social media platforms like Twitter/X to disseminate updates, noting that many phones remain uncharged due to the outages.

Hurricane Oscar’s impact underscores the broader struggles Cuba faces, including a sputtering energy infrastructure and rising public discontent. While July 2021’s blackouts sparked massive protests, recent expressions of frustration, such as banging pots in Havana neighborhoods, have been more subdued.

President Díaz-Canel attributed the crisis to the U.S. embargo, which he described as a “financial war” aimed at destabilizing Cuba. Addressing activists in Miami encouraging protests, he stated, “We will not allow acts of vandalism or disruptions to the civil tranquility of our people.”