Cuba is actively restoring power after Tropical Storm Oscar caused widespread outages and significant damage. The storm resulted in six deaths in San Antonio del Sur and flooded various regions, impacting agriculture severely. As of Tuesday, over 70% of the island has regained electricity, with Havana nearly fully restored despite the aging power plant issues exacerbated by reduced oil imports.
Cuba has made significant strides in restoring electrical power across various regions of the island nation, including the capital city of Havana and surrounding provinces, following the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Oscar. Initially classified as a Category 1 hurricane upon making landfall near Baracoa, Oscar was later downgraded to a tropical storm. However, it caused extensive damage in eastern Cuba, leading to downed power lines, mudslides, and severe flooding. In a tragic outcome, a flash flood severely impacted the town of San Antonio del Sur, resulting in the loss of six lives, among them a young child, according to local authorities. Furthermore, rainfall accumulation exceeded 10 inches (25 cm) in several areas, inundating agricultural land, damaging banana plantations, and significantly affecting the local coffee crop. Efforts to restore power have been complicated by blocked roads and treacherous rivers in regions like Guantanamo, where infrastructure remains disrupted. By the afternoon, Cuban officials reported the successful stabilization of the electrical grid after multiple disruptions since Friday. Originally, the entire national grid failed, leaving approximately 10 million citizens without power due to the impending storm. As of Tuesday, over 70% of the island had regained electricity, with authorities indicating that several power plants would resume operation soon, improving the electricity supply further. Notably, the grid operator confirmed that around 90% of Havana’s population had their electrical service restored by midday, as the capital was largely untouched by the storm’s fury. Cuba’s reliance on aging oil-fired power plants has exacerbated the current crisis, especially as oil imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico have dwindled, culminating in last week’s grid collapse.
The article addresses the aftermath of Tropical Storm Oscar, which struck Cuba, affecting vast areas and prompting an extensive response to restore electrical services to millions of residents. This crisis was intensified by the existing challenges facing Cuba’s electrical grid, which has been deteriorating due to a combination of aging infrastructure and reduced oil imports necessary for generating electricity. The storm exacerbated these issues, leading to significant loss of life and property, particularly in eastern regions of the island. The Cuban government is actively working on recovery efforts to restore essential services and manage the ongoing impacts of natural disasters, which have become increasingly frequent due to climate change phenomena.
In summary, the restoration of power across Cuba following Tropical Storm Oscar highlights the resilience and capacity of emergency response teams amid challenging circumstances. While the storm caused significant destruction and loss of life, recovery efforts are progressing, with over 70% of the island having electricity restored. However, the incident underscores critical vulnerabilities within Cuba’s electrical infrastructure and the need for comprehensive long-term solutions to mitigate future risks associated with natural disasters.
Original Source: www.westhawaiitoday.com
