Cuba assesses damage from Hurricane Oscar as power returns

28 October 2024

Power has returned to most of Cuba following four days during which attempts to restart the island’s national electrical system failed. The nationwide collapse of the grid coincided with Hurricane Oscar hitting the eastern Province of Guantanamo late on Sunday 20 October causing extensive destruction.

Addressing Cuba’s National Defence Council on 22 October about the power outage which began on Friday 18 October and the hurricane’s impact, President Díaz-Canel said: “We are still in the fight, we are still working to address these two important situations that create an exceptional condition in the lives of Cubans, and we will be in permanent contact with our people as we move forward in addressing these problems.”

Highlights in this issue: 

  • Hurricane Oscar causes extensive destruction in east of island
  • BRICS to invite Cuba to become a partner state
  • US Appeals court dismisses Helms Burton case against four cruise lines
  • Planting for next tobacco crop underway
  • Mexico evaluating sending humanitarian fuel aid to Cuba 

During the outages, small, sporadic, peaceful protests took place in some cities, principally in the form of Cubans banging pots in frustration at the absence of power and water, according to  international news agency reports. The external internet monitoring group NetBlocks noted a rapid decline in internet traffic during the nationwide blackout as most Cubans were unable to recharge their phones to go online.

Government extended until Sunday 27 October the suspension of work and education to enable power to be restored and for rescue efforts to be undertaken in parts of Guantanamo and for the damage caused  to be assessed.  An official note indicated that arrangements were in place to provide salaries to those working on recovery and those who have had their work suspended.

28 October 2024, Issue 1254 

 The Caribbean Council is able to provide further detail about all of the stories in Cuba Briefing. If you would like a more detailed insight into any of the content of today’s issue, please get in touch.