A photo shared by WPLG Local 10 News on Friday depicts a group of 20 to 30 individuals—including women, men, and children—blocking a road in Havana, with a white Hyundai police vehicle flashing its blue lights prominently in the foreground. This scene is part of the ongoing protests that have shaken the Cuban capital since May 13.
Sparked by power outages lasting up to 22 hours daily, the demonstrations have swept across at least 12 Havana municipalities, such as Guanabacoa, Marianao, Playa, San Miguel del Padrón, Luyanó, Santos Suárez, Habana del Este, Regla, Boyeros, El Vedado, Nuevo Vedado, and Puentes Grandes.
Reuters described the evening of May 13 as the largest protest event in Havana since the escalation of the energy crisis.
Residents took to the streets, using burning trash to block roads, erecting barricades, and chanting slogans like "Down with the dictatorship!", "Power and food!", and "Turn on the lights!"
The involvement of children among the protesters has become a striking aspect of international coverage, documented by both WPLG Local 10 and CNN journalist Patrick Oppmann.
One Cuban mother, captured on camera by Oppmann during a protest, conveyed the depth of family despair: "The children are without food, not going to school, we are desperate."
Structural Crisis Behind the Blackouts
The underlying issue is systemic: Cuba's Electric Union projected a peak generation capacity of merely 976 MW against a demand of 3,150 MW, leaving 70% of the island without electricity at any given time.
Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy admitted that the nation had completely depleted its reserves of fuel oil and diesel, acknowledging power outages of 20 to 22 hours daily in some of the capital's circuits.
Cuba requires an estimated 100,000 barrels of fuel daily but produces only around 40,000 domestically; thus far in 2026, just two fuel tankers have officially delivered supplies.
Government Response and Local Impact
The regime's response included police repression, with demonstrators in Playa facing beatings on May 14, widespread internet blackouts, and the deployment of "black berets" and State Security patrols.
The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a security alert on May 14, advising American citizens to avoid protest areas.
The social context is dire: the Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded 1,133 protests in April 2026 alone, a 29.5% increase over the same period in 2025, while the Food Monitor Program estimated that 96.91% of the Cuban population lacked adequate food access that month.
In April 2026, the UN warned that the energy crisis had a "systemic and increasingly severe" impact on health, water, sanitation, food, education, transportation, and telecommunications in Cuba.
As Cuban families, including their children, took to the streets out of desperation, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero urged officials to "be in the streets" to manage the crisis, yet failed to offer concrete solutions to the island's energy and food collapse.
Understanding the Cuban Protests and Energy Crisis
What triggered the protests in Havana?
The protests were triggered by extensive power outages, with blackouts lasting up to 22 hours a day, affecting daily life in Havana.
How has the Cuban government responded to the protests?
The government has responded with police repression, internet blackouts, and deploying security forces, while failing to provide solutions to the crises.
What impact has the energy crisis had on Cuban society?
The energy crisis has severely affected health, education, food access, and general infrastructure, with widespread protests indicating societal distress.