Residents of San Isidro, a neighborhood in Old Havana, took to the streets in protest on Thursday after enduring four days without electricity and five days without water, as shown in a video shared on social media by user Isis Ro.
The footage captures a woman urging her neighbors to take action, exclaiming, "Four days without power, five days without water, it's outrageous!" Her voice rings with frustration as she questions why people are not uniting against the regime, highlighting the dire situation where "a bunch of kids" are suffering from hunger and deprivation.
This protest in San Isidro was not isolated; similar discontent erupted in other areas of Havana. In Loma de la Pela, Guanabacoa, close to Barreras, a nighttime pot-banging protest, known as "cacerolazo," saw participants joining forces with Barreras locals to demonstrate in the town park. Journalist José Raúl Gallego reported this event, citing a witness who confirmed the presence of State Security agents and local leaders attempting to disperse the crowd by promising electricity restoration by Saturday.
The Worsening Energy Crisis
The demonstrations on Thursday occurred amid an unprecedented energy crisis. The National Electric System has suffered four complete collapses so far in 2026, marking the eighth such incident in just 24 months.
On July 8, the energy deficit hit a record 2,341 MW, impacting 73% of the population. Some areas in Havana are facing outages exceeding 35 consecutive hours daily, while in Matanzas, power has been out for up to 87 hours at a time.
The lack of electricity also disrupts water pumping, worsening the water supply issues in municipalities like Old Havana, Centro Habana, and Plaza de la Revolución. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero admitted that fuel shortages are the root cause of these failures, yet the regime has not provided any immediate solutions.
Rising Social Unrest
Guanabacoa, in particular, has seen a surge in protests. On July 8, residents of La Hata took to the streets after 24 hours without power, chanting "Freedom!" and "Down with the dictatorship!" A strong pot-banging protest in Reparto Nalón on July 12, coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the 11J demonstrations, highlighted the persistent social pressure in the area.
In June 2026 alone, the country witnessed 107 protests, nearly doubling the previous record of 54 in 2024. The organization Cubalex recorded 38 arrests linked to these pot-banging protests that month, including six minors.
The regime's tactic of promising to restore electricity to disperse protesters—as seen this Thursday in Barreras—has been documented repeatedly as part of their strategy to quell unrest without addressing the underlying crisis.
On Friday, a pot-banging protest in El Vedado erupted after over 30 hours without power, confirming that the wave of protests in Havana shows no sign of slowing down.
Understanding the Protests in Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why did the residents of San Isidro protest?
Residents of San Isidro protested due to enduring four days without electricity and five days without water, exacerbating living conditions and leading to widespread frustration.
What are the main causes of the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is primarily attributed to severe fuel shortages, which have led to frequent and prolonged power outages affecting large portions of the population.
How has the government responded to the protests?
The government has attempted to quell protests by promising to restore electricity, but this tactic has been criticized as a temporary fix that does not address the root causes of the crisis.