After the explosions at a fuel depot in Matanzas, Cuba, power went out in parts of the capital Havana for hours. For example, in the Vedado district, where there are several embassies, the lights went out for about four hours on Monday evening (local time). This further exacerbated the difficult situation with regard to the power supply and led to further resentment among the population.
There was no official information about the cause of the power outage. However, Antonio Guiteras’ thermoelectric power station near Matanzas was temporarily taken off the grid on Monday. According to government information, this was due to a lack of water during the extinguishing operations. The power supply in Cuba continues to suffer.
Last Wednesday, controlled power outages began in Havana. Among other measures to save electricity, the province had announced that these would take place every three days and last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Power cuts had been going on for months in the rest of the country, some of which those affected said lasted more than 12 hours a day. Frequent power cuts during the hottest time of the year were one of the reasons for the July 2021 anti-government demonstrations in the communist Caribbean country.
Lightning strike caused inferno
In any case, the current power outage in Havana was the result of an accident in an industrial area in the coastal town of Matanzas – where lightning had detonated a fuel tank on Friday. The fire has spread to other parts of the property and has not yet been extinguished. Monday night, a second tank exploded and a third collapsed. Authorities said there were 125 injured, at least one dead and 14 missing firefighters.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
