In brief
Cuba faces a humanitarian crisis as Hurricane Oscar has claimed six lives and left significant infrastructure destruction, prompting public outcry for power restoration.
Hurricane Oscar struck eastern Cuba on Sunday afternoon, making landfall as a category one hurricane near Baracoa and transitioning into a tropical storm. The harsh weather has led to the tragic deaths of at least six individuals, as confirmed by President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The hardest-hit province, Guantánamo, reported damage to over 1,000 homes due to intense rain and winds. The calamity coincided with a nationwide power outage affecting around 10 million Cubans, leaving many in darkness.Díaz-Canel noted continued difficulties in accessing some areas as rescue teams work tirelessly to assist stranded residents. Severe flooding has been reported in the municipalities of San Antonio and Imías, with flooding levels unprecedented in local history. Grieving families in San Antonio are mourning the six fatalities, though details surrounding these deaths remain scant.As Oscar tracks north-eastward, meteorologists have issued warnings about possible flash flooding in the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. In Cuba, pockets of civil unrest have surfaced, with citizens protesting against the prolonged power outage in a rare show of defiance. Many took to the streets banging pots and pans, chanting demands for restored electricity.The power cuts, exacerbated by the collapse of Cuba's largest power plant last week, have agitated the public, already suffering from fuel and food shortages amid a severe economic crisis spanning three decades. Díaz-Canel attributed the power issues to a tightening U.S. trade embargo and pledged that efforts to restore electricity would continue. However, frustration is palpable among residents still facing power interruptions. One local lamented, "We have been without electricity since Friday," as his elderly grandmother requested cold water. A nearby resident voiced her despair, revealing she had endured four days without power, leading to spoiled food and unbearable conditions for her children. The ongoing crisis paints a grim picture of life in Cuba as citizens plead for immediate government action to address their dire needs.
