In a recent interview, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Hurricane Oscar has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals. The hurricane made landfall as a category one storm near Baracoa in eastern Cuba on Sunday afternoon, subsequently weakening into a tropical storm.
Díaz-Canel reported that the province of Guantánamo faced the most significant damage, with over 1,000 homes affected by the intense rains and strong winds. Adding to the chaos, the hurricane struck during a nationwide power outage that left approximately 10 million Cubans without electricity.
As rescue efforts continue, the president mentioned that many areas remain inaccessible as of Tuesday morning. “The municipalities of San Antonio and Imías have been heavily battered by this event, with flooding levels not historically recorded in these regions,” he stated.
All six fatalities occurred in San Antonio, though specific details surrounding their deaths have yet to be released. Meteorologists have issued warnings that Oscar may bring localized flash flooding to the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday as it moves northeast.
Amid the ongoing crisis, some Cubans have taken the unusual step of protesting in public, demanding an end to the power cuts. Demonstrators have been heard banging pots and pans and chanting, “Turn on the lights.” While power disruptions are not uncommon in Cuba, last week’s failure of the country’s largest power plant exacerbated the situation, resulting in widespread blackouts.
In his remarks, President Díaz-Canel attributed the power struggles to the tightening of the long-standing US trade embargo, asserting that the Cuban government will not rest until power is fully restored. Nevertheless, frustration runs high among residents still waiting for electricity. One man expressed his dismay, saying, “We have been without electricity since Friday. My 85-year-old grandmother has been asking me for cold water since then.”
Another resident echoed similar sentiments, stating, “I’ve been without power for four days. The food has spoiled, the children are struggling, we have no cold water, we have nothing.” This crisis reflects the broader challenges faced by Cubans, who are grappling with severe shortages of fuel and food as the country endures its worst economic crisis in thirty years.
