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Cuba is extending the closure of non-essential workplaces and schools until Sunday to manage a severe electricity shortage, which has been worsened by Hurricane Oscar.

Let’s bring you up to speed: Last Friday, Cuba experienced a massive power outage after a hurricane caused the collapse of the country’s largest power plant, leading to a complete shutdown of the national electricity grid. Fuel shortages prevented other plants from responding to the failure, resulting in a total loss of power across the island. By Tuesday, 70% of the country had electricity restored, though many areas outside Havana remained in the dark. Despite the progress, the power grid continues operating with a 30% energy deficit during peak hours.

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What’s going on now: In response to the ongoing power outages, the Cuban government has extended the closure of non-essential workplaces and schools through Sunday to conserve energy. Only vital services, like hospitals, remain operational. President Miguel Díaz-Canel has been visiting affected regions, reassuring residents they have not been abandoned, while state media reports that the country still faces a significant energy deficit during peak hours. The government is also implementing energy-saving measures and urging citizens to remain patient as efforts to stabilize the grid continue.

Cuban government blames US: President Diaz-Canel has shifted the blame to the US government, specifically referencing trade embargos on Cuba. He said the ongoing outages were due to the “economic war and financial and energy persecution by the United States.”

Protests: Due to the ongoing outages, protests have erupted in various parts of Cuba as frustrated residents voice their anger over the lack of electricity. Over the weekend, demonstrators in one neighborhood banged pots and pans while shouting, “Turn on the lights” in response to the prolonged blackouts. These protests have raised concerns within the Cuban government about potential unrest. The Cuban government has issued warnings, stating it will not tolerate actions that disrupt public order. 

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