Patrick Oppmann, CNN's correspondent in Cuba, finds himself in the same predicament as many Cubans, enduring widespread blackouts that have plagued the island since Friday. Sharing the sentiment of numerous locals he spoke to while reporting from Havana, Oppmann echoed their frustration, saying, "I'm ready to board a plane."
Oppmann has been diligently covering the extensive power outage that began on Friday and persisted into Saturday. This comes shortly after Cuban authorities warned of impending fuel shortages that would lead to more power interruptions and prompted the activation of an emergency plan. His reports, which have taken him through Havana's neighborhoods shrouded in darkness, underscore the worsening crisis affecting both Cubans and foreign journalists residing in the country.
The Cuban government has blamed the situation on U.S. sanctions, yet Oppmann pointed out that decades of infrastructure neglect and lack of investment have played a pivotal role in this disaster. "Let's hope the power is restored before food spoils and people are seriously impacted," he remarked, reiterating the feelings of many Cubans, including a woman who expressed her desire to flee, saying, "I'm ready to board a plane."
Life in the Dark: A City on Pause
The blackout, impacting the entire island, including Havana, has plunged the city into an eerie silence. According to Oppmann, only the most privileged residents have access to generators and sufficient fuel to keep them running. Meanwhile, traffic lights remain off, with few officers available to direct the flow of vehicles.
Cubans, who have become accustomed to frequent blackouts, perceive this particular outage as different, perhaps due to its scale or the increasing sense of hopelessness. Oppmann notes this shift in the mood of the populace.
Uncertainty Looms Amid Energy Crisis
Just hours after officials announced a slow restoration of the energy supply, another major blackout hit the island on Saturday morning. The situation remains dire, and residents are left waiting anxiously for the return of electricity amid a deepening energy crisis.
The massive blackout in Cuba captured headlines globally on Friday, with major outlets like The New York Times providing real-time coverage of the electric grid's collapse. Meanwhile, CNN reported the blackout as breaking news, attributing it to a "failure" at one of the country's main power plants.