Commonwealth_ At least six people have died as a result of Hurricane Oscar in Cuba, according to the country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel. The storm, which made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Baracoa in eastern Cuba on Sunday afternoon, later weakened to a tropical storm. Despite this downgrade, the storm’s heavy rains and strong winds had a severe impact, particularly in the province of Guantánamo.
Damage to over 1,000 homes in Guantánamo resulted in the displacement of many families or their need for assistance. The hurricane hit Cuba during an island-wide power outage that had already left about 10 million people without electricity. The situation worsened when Oscar made landfall, further complicating efforts to restore power and communicate with isolated areas. As of early Tuesday, President Díaz-Canel confirmed that some regions were still inaccessible due to the storm’s damage. Rescue workers were working tirelessly to reach those cut off from help.
President Díaz-Canel specifically mentioned that the municipalities of San Antonio and Imías were severely affected. In these areas, flood levels surpassed historical records, and extensive damage was reported. All six fatalities occurred in San Antonio, though authorities have not yet released details on the specific causes of their deaths.
While Cuba begins its recovery, meteorologists have warned that Oscar could continue to pose a threat as it moves northeast. Parts of the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands anticipate flash flooding. The danger may persist, with heavy rains and strong winds expected to impact those areas on Tuesday, potentially causing further damage and disruptions.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, Cuba has seen a rare display of public dissent. Frustrated by prolonged power outages, some Cubans took to the streets in protest. This kind of demonstration is unusual in the country, where unauthorized protests are banned and can lead to arrest. People banged pots and pans, chanting for the restoration of electricity and demanding, “Turn on the lights.” The prolonged blackout, which started even before the hurricane struck, has caused widespread frustration, as reflected in these protests.
Although power outages are common in Cuba, the recent failure of the country’s largest power plant has exacerbated the current situation. The plant’s breakdown triggered a nationwide blackout, which the government has struggled to resolve. The blackout occurred in the context of Cuba’s worst economic crisis in three decades, making the situation even more dire for residents. Shortages of fuel, food, and other basic necessities have already been plaguing the population, and the power cuts have made daily life even more difficult.
President Díaz-Canel has attributed part of Cuba’s struggles to the ongoing U.S. trade embargo, which has been in place for decades. He claimed that the tightening of the embargo has further hampered Cuba’s ability to recover from such crises. The Cuban government, he said, is working nonstop to restore power to all affected areas, but many residents feel that progress has been too slow.
For those still without electricity, the hardships continue to mount. One man, speaking to the Reuters news agency, expressed his frustration after being without power since Friday, days before the hurricane made landfall. “My 85-year-old grandmother has been asking me for cold water since Friday,” he said, highlighting the challenges faced by vulnerable populations during this crisis. Reuters also interviewed another woman who revealed that her family had been without power for four days. “The food has spoiled, the children are struggling, we have no cold water, we have nothing,” she lamented.
Cuba’s current situation is grim, with both the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Oscar and the broader economic crisis leaving millions in a precarious state. While the government continues its efforts to restore power and provide relief to the hardest-hit areas, many Cubans are growing increasingly impatient. The storm has exposed deep vulnerabilities in the island’s infrastructure and economy, and it will likely take time for the country to recover fully from its impacts. As the nation moves forward, both the government and the people will have to navigate the compounded challenges of natural disasters, economic hardship, and long-standing political tensions.
