In the city of Cienfuegos, a Cuban man ascended a telecommunications tower belonging to ETECSA. This act was reportedly a protest against the relentless power outages plaguing the Reina district community.
The incident quickly drew a crowd of locals who gathered to witness and record the event. The individual, identified as Tomás Chacón, threatened to jump if any forceful attempts were made to bring him down, according to journalist Yosmany Mayeta.
The tense atmosphere prompted the arrival of firefighters and police, who engaged in negotiations with Chacón. After several minutes of discussion, the firefighters successfully persuaded him to descend without the need for force. Footage shared on social media by Cántalo TV captured the moment when Chacón was coaxed down by a firefighter who climbed partway to reach him.
As of the time this article was closed, no further details about the incident have emerged.
This is not an isolated event in Cienfuegos. Back in December 2022, another Cuban, known as Liván El Burro, climbed an ETECSA tower in the Cruces municipality. His protest was similarly sparked by continuous and severe power outages. On that occasion, he yelled slogans like "Down with communism" and "I want to go to the U.S.," and threatened to commit suicide if the electricity wasn't restored.
FAQs About Protests on ETECSA Towers in Cuba
Why did Tomás Chacón climb the ETECSA tower?
Tomás Chacón climbed the ETECSA tower to protest against the ongoing power outages affecting the Reina district in Cienfuegos.
How was the situation with Tomás Chacón resolved?
Firefighters managed to talk Tomás Chacón down after several minutes of negotiation, avoiding the need for forceful intervention.
Have there been similar incidents in Cienfuegos before?
Yes, a similar incident occurred in December 2022 when another man climbed an ETECSA tower in protest of power outages, shouting anti-communist slogans.