Satellite images show blackout in Cuba after power supply collapse; PHOTO

Satellite images show blackout in Cuba after power supply collapse; PHOTO Satellite images captured in recent days show Cuba plunged into darkness at night, highlighting the scale of the energy collapse faced by the country (see the video above). “You know when it starts, but not when it ends”, says a Cuban woman, who prefers not to identify herself. According to her, the lack of energy has become constant. “There is no public transport, there is no movement on the streets.” The blackout, which is already part of Cubans’ routine, has worsened in recent weeks and culminated in the second national blackout in less than seven days, affecting more than 10 million people. The crisis intensified at the beginning of the year, when oil shipments from Venezuela — the island’s main supplier — were interrupted following sanctions and blockades imposed by the United States. Without sufficient inputs to supply the plants, the electrical system collapsed, causing large-scale interruptions in energy supply. Satellite images show blackout in Cuba after collapse in energy supply Reproduction/TV Globo READ ALSO: Coal-powered car becomes a symbol of Cubans’ improvisation to deal with lack of fuel in the country in crisis Unprecedented energy crisis On the ground, far from the images seen from space, the crisis is reflected in improvisation and exhaustion. Without fuel, public transport practically stopped. Bicycles and even cars adapted to run on coal became alternatives for transportation. Dariel, a cook at one of Havana’s best-known restaurants, says that, at home, every meal has become a challenge. “We used to make a lot of spaghetti, but now we need to save water, because it runs out,” he says. “We can go two, three days without it.” The power outage also paralyzed basic services. Garbage accumulates in the streets because there is no fuel for the collection trucks. Small businesses closed their doors. Workers had contracts frozen and were left without pay. A sociologist who works in a clothing store reports that she developed anxiety about the constant darkness. “I don’t sleep. There’s a lot of uncertainty. I’m very angry.” Fantastic show of everyday life for Cubans in the midst of a historic energy crisis Reproduction/TV Globo Political tension and uncertainty The energy crisis occurs amidst a scenario of strong political tension. The economic embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba has lasted more than 60 years, but recently gained new contours with threats of sanctions against countries that supplied oil to the island. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel admitted for the first time that the government negotiates with the United States. At the same time, recent statements by American President Donald Trump about “taking Cuba” have raised the diplomatic temperature. Amid the instability, there were reports of attacks on Communist Party buildings in cities in the interior. Fantástico shows the daily lives of Cubans amid the historic energy crisis Reproduction/TV Globo See the full report in the video below: Fantastic shows the daily lives of Cubans amid the historic energy crisis Listen to the Fantástico podcasts THIS IS FANTASTIC The Isso É Fantástico podcast is available on g1 and the main podcast apps, bringing great reports, investigations and fascinating stories in podcasts with the Fantástico journalism seal: depth, context and information. Follow, like or subscribe to Isso É Fantástico on your favorite podcast player. Every Sunday there’s a new episode.

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