Oh my gosh, like, Cuba is literally going through another blackout, and it’s, like, the second one this month! Can you even imagine? So, the whole island, with all 11 million people, just went totally dark on October 18, 2024, because, like, their entire electrical grid just gave up. It’s kind of a mess, right? The collapse happened because some major thermoelectric plants failed, and to make it worse, they didn’t have enough backup fuel to keep things running.
So, like, power started to come back in some areas by October 19, but most of the island is still, like, totally out of luck. Vicente de la O Levy, who’s Cuba’s Energy and Mines Minister, was like, “We are working hard to restore electricity, but we are facing a very precarious situation with our grid.” Uh, yeah, no kidding! This grid is so old, and it’s, like, just falling apart at this point.
People in Cuba are, like, seriously over it. One guy from Havana, Luis García, told NBC News, “We’ve lived with blackouts for years, but this time it’s different. It’s happening more often, and it’s lasting longer. How can we work, how can we live like this?” And, honestly, I feel that. Can you imagine trying to go about your day and, like, the power just goes out constantly? Ugh, so frustrating.
It’s not just regular life that’s a mess either—like, even hospitals are struggling! NPR reported that hospitals are using backup generators, but they’re running out of fuel too. And, like, if they can’t keep the power on for critical equipment? It’s super serious! The Ministry of Public Health has told hospitals to focus on emergency services, but, like, this blackout could really mess up patient care.
Cuba is trying to deal with it by, like, suspending schools and shutting down nonessential businesses to save energy. But, according to Luis Alberto Cepero, who’s this energy expert, the real problem is that the electrical grid is so old and outdated. He said, “Cuba’s electrical grid is outdated and stretched beyond its limits. Without serious upgrades and foreign investment, blackouts like these will keep happening.” So, like, if they don’t get some major help soon, this could keep happening. And no one wants that.
Plus, all of this is happening while Cuba’s economy is, like, totally struggling. Thanks to COVID-19, tourism being way down, and U.S. sanctions, the economy is already in shambles. The whole blackout situation just makes it, like, 100 times worse.
So yeah, Cubans are just, like, crossing their fingers and hoping the power comes back soon. But, honestly, with how bad the grid is, it’s not looking good for the near future.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
