Cuba Restores Power Amid Tropical Storm Oscar’s Aftermath
Cuba is making marked progress in restoring electricity after Tropical Storm Oscar, which caused extensive damage and casualties, particularly in eastern areas. Approximately 70% of the nation reported regained power by Tuesday, with almost 90% of clients in Havana restored by midday, even as many regions remain isolated due to flooding and mudslides.
Cuba has made significant strides in restoring electricity across the nation, with notable progress reported in Havana and surrounding provinces on Tuesday. This restoration follows the impact of Tropical Storm Oscar, which, after making landfall near Baracoa as a Category 1 hurricane, was downgraded but still caused severe damage throughout eastern Cuba. The storm downed power lines, induced mudslides, and led to substantial flooding. A particularly devastating flash flood early on Monday nearly obliterated the small town of San Antonio del Sur, resulting in six fatalities, one of whom was a child, according to local authorities. Rainfall exceeded 10 inches (25 centimeters) in certain regions, overwhelming agricultural lands, toppling banana trees, and adversely affecting the local coffee supply. Areas within Guantanamo remained isolated due to swollen rivers and road blockages from mudslides, further complicating efforts to restore electricity and leaving many residents without means of communication. By mid-afternoon on Tuesday, Cuban officials announced that they had stabilized the national electrical grid, which had suffered major failures since the grid collapsed last Friday due to the impending storm. As a result, approximately 70% of the nation regained electrical power, with expectations of additional power plants coming online to further improve service. In the capital, Havana, the grid operator reported that about 90% of clients had their power restored by midday on Tuesday. Cuba’s aging oil-fired power plants are currently at a critical juncture, as a decline in oil imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico has culminated in the recent failures of the electrical grid.
The restoration of electricity in Cuba following Tropical Storm Oscar underscores the recurrent challenges faced by the nation’s electrical infrastructure. Prior to the storm, Cuba’s national grid had already been vulnerable, influenced by diminishing oil imports which are crucial for its oil-fired power plants. This dependency on external sources of energy, coupled with outdated technology, has led to widespread outages and instability within the electrical grid. Additionally, the impact of natural disasters such as Oscar exacerbates these issues, highlighting the urgent need for modernization and resilience in Cuba’s power production and distribution systems.
In summary, Cuba is actively recovering from the debilitating effects of Tropical Storm Oscar, with progress in restoring power to a significant portion of the country, particularly in Havana. The storm caused devastating floods and fatalities, severely affecting communications and infrastructure in eastern regions. Although a majority of the population has regained electricity, the challenges surrounding oil dependency and the need for an upgraded electrical grid persist as critical issues for Cuba’s energy future.
Original Source: www.westhawaiitoday.com
