On Tuesday, a Cuban woman, known on social media as El Mundo de Laura, shared a poignant account of the ongoing power crisis in Cuba that resonated deeply with thousands of Cubans both on the island and abroad.
Her narrative paints a picture of life after enduring 72 continuous hours without electricity, water, or the possibility of rest.
"I don't know where Cubans find their strength, or how we muster the courage to face such torture, misery, and disdain," wrote Laura, who lives with her young daughter—requiring special care—and her 69-year-old father.
In her account, Laura mentions that a kind individual gifted her a portable power station, but it proved inadequate after three days without power.
The child barely slept despite having a fan, overwhelmed by the heat and mosquitoes, while her grandfather and mother spent the night on a couch, hoping for electricity that never came.
"I have no life or enthusiasm left... This isn't living... Only God gives me strength," she concluded.
The post sparked a flood of comments reflecting a reality shared by millions of Cubans.
"They're killing us one by one," commented one follower. Another summed up the collective exhaustion with a phrase: "It feels like a horror movie, but it's our daily life."
From the Isle of Youth, a follower reported having only three hours of electricity a day, small businesses unable to process transactions due to power outages, and sweet potatoes priced at 60 pesos per pound: "We're not doing well here, with no money in banks and sky-high prices."
Another commentator shared her personal struggle: "In my home, there's an autistic child who is terrified of the dark. This isn't torture; it's a massacre, it defies description."
A grandmother recounted how her four-month-old granddaughter wakes up with mosquito bites due to the oppressive heat and lack of water: "We're physically and mentally exhausted. Our brains aren't functioning properly anymore."
Some comments directly blamed the regime as the culprit: "What they're doing to the people is psychological abuse. They don't experience power outages; they live comfortably while the people just scrape by."
Another internet user was more explicit about the social silence: "It's not that we find strength or courage, but the terror of the dictatorship paralyzes us, and we choose to improvise to survive rather than confront evil and eradicate it."
Bitter irony was not absent: "The people are without power while Fidel's grandson, Sandro Castro, cruises around Santa Clara. Where does the kid get his fuel?"
Laura's testimony comes at one of the worst times of the electric collapse in Cuba. On Monday, the Electric Union reported an availability of just 995 MW against a demand of 2,620 MW, resulting in a shortfall of 1,630 MW.
The impact of the blackouts on the water supply is direct, with over 80% of the country's pumping equipment relying on the electrical network.
"This is called survival instinct. They've made us believe we're a superior human race, but we're not. We're humans enduring, surviving," summarized one of Laura's followers.
Understanding the Power Crisis in Cuba
What is causing the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to insufficient electricity generation capacity. The Electric Union reported a significant deficit between electricity availability and demand.
How do these power outages affect daily life in Cuba?
The outages severely impact daily life, disrupting water supply, causing severe discomfort due to heat and mosquitoes, and affecting businesses that rely on electricity for transactions.
What is the public's reaction to the ongoing crisis?
Public reaction is one of frustration and exhaustion, with many blaming the government for their dire circumstances, and others expressing a sense of helplessness and survival instinct.