Recent images released on Wednesday depict Cubans bathing and cooking in a public park adjacent to Havana's iconic Malecón. This scene starkly illustrates the severe humanitarian crisis gripping the Cuban capital due to persistent shortages of water and electricity.
Activist Mag Jorge Castro shared a video on Facebook, highlighting the disparity between the street-level reality and the regime's agenda: "The Cuban regime is holding an urgent meeting today to discuss the measures announced by Díaz-Canel... Meanwhile, on the island, Cubans are forced to bathe and cook in public parks due to the lack of water and electricity. It's a disaster."
This incident coincides with an emergency session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, convened to assess over 20 economic measures unveiled by Miguel Díaz-Canel on June 12. These discussions occur just a day before an extraordinary session of the National Assembly of People's Power is set to ratify these measures.
Water and Power Shortages Paralyze Havana
The water supply collapse in Havana is directly linked to the fact that 87% of the city's water system relies on electric pumps, which are rendered useless during outages. May data from the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources indicated that over 376,000 residents of Havana lacked regular access to potable water: 66,961 due to network breakdowns and more than 309,000 due to power failures. Only 135 of the 480 primary pumping stations are on circuits protected from these cuts.
Nationally, the situation is equally dire: nearly 2.7 million Cubans face a lack of potable water, and 10 million experience intermittent supply.
Nationwide Power Outages Exacerbate Crisis
The blackouts, which have led to this collapse, reached critical levels on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Electric Union reported a 1,902 MW shortfall at 7:00 PM. The shutdown of the CTE Guiteras on Monday escalated the peak hour deficit to an estimated 2,085 MW.
In Santiago de Cuba, the electric company reorganized outages into nine blocks, leaving each area with just one or two hours of electricity daily. In Matanzas, some neighborhoods reported over 72 consecutive hours without power, and in Granma, some circuits endured more than 45 hours of darkness.
Housing Crisis Adds to Public Desperation
Compounding the water and electricity crisis is the deteriorating state of housing. In Havana, approximately 1,000 buildings collapse annually, with 185,348 structures in poor condition and 46,158 needing major repairs. This deterioration has led to an increased presence of homeless individuals in parks and public spaces throughout the city, including the Malecón area.
This isn't the first instance of the park by the Malecón becoming a symbol of hardship. In October 2024, children were seen bathing in a stagnant water puddle in Antonio Maceo Park, adjacent to the same waterfront promenade. What seemed like an isolated incident then has now become a regular sight in the Cuban capital.
Crisis in Havana: Water and Electricity Shortages
What is causing the water shortages in Havana?
The water shortages in Havana are primarily due to the city's reliance on electric pumps for 87% of its water system. Frequent power outages render these pumps inoperable, leading to a collapse in water supply.
How are power outages affecting Havana's residents?
Power outages in Havana have reached critical levels, disrupting daily life by affecting water supply and limiting electricity availability. Some areas experience only a couple of hours of power per day, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.