The small community of San Miguel de los Baños in Jovellanos, Matanzas has been enduring a dire situation, having gone more than a month without electricity or any form of communication. This crisis is exacerbated by a suspected arbovirus epidemic, leaving residents unable to call for medical assistance.
Amanda Fernández, a Cuban content creator native to the area, brought this plight to light. She shared a distressing SOS video on Facebook, which has garnered over 5,400 views.
"This video is truly sad and unfortunate," Fernández stated at the beginning of the clip. "My aim is to make people aware of the dire circumstances faced by a segment of the Cuban population right now."
Communication Breakdown Worsens Health Crisis
According to Fernández, the town has been completely without power for over a month, with no mobile or landline communication. The lack of connectivity has severe implications for healthcare access.
"Medical outposts currently have no way to contact external emergency services. If an ambulance is needed, there's no way to request one," Fernández warned.
A Public Health Emergency
The situation has escalated into a humanitarian emergency, as San Miguel de los Baños battles an arbovirus outbreak. "The epidemic is literally killing people, and they have no means to seek medical help," she lamented, estimating that about 95% of the population is affected.
Fernández criticized the government's inaction, stating, "The government provides no answers, leaving them abandoned and without hope."
Community in Crisis
Comments on the video from those connected to the area corroborate Fernández's account. One user mentioned, "My uncle is suffering from kidney failure and now the virus. We don't know if he's alive or dead because of the communist regime." Another noted that ambulances, when called, claim they "lack fuel to pick up patients." A third comment summed up the situation: "What they are doing to San Miguel de los Baños, once Cuba's paradise, is unjust and inhumane. It's now a living hell."
Impact of Energy Cuts
The prolonged power outage directly impacts communication capabilities. Nationwide, blackouts challenge telecom services: ETECSA has admitted that its infrastructure cannot withstand more than 24 hours without power, resulting in about 47.5% of mobile radio bases being out of service.
In June, Matanzas experienced power cuts lasting up to 85 consecutive hours in some areas. The province, greatly affected by the 2026 energy crisis, has seen facilities like the substation in San Miguel de los Baños listed among those damaged since May.
Historical Context and Current Struggles
The arbovirus epidemic is part of a larger national issue. By this point in 2026, Cuba has recorded over 7,133 dengue cases, a figure 7.4 times higher than expected, with Matanzas, Guantánamo, and Villa Clara being significant hotspots.
Once a famed thermal spa, San Miguel de los Baños was home to the Grand Hotel, inaugurated in 1930. Despite being declared a National Monument in 2001, the spa remains in ruins, with no effective restoration efforts.
Understanding the Crisis in San Miguel de los Baños
What is causing the crisis in San Miguel de los Baños?
The crisis is primarily due to a prolonged lack of electricity and communication, worsened by a suspected arbovirus epidemic affecting the majority of the population.
How are residents coping without communication?
Residents struggle to cope as the lack of communication hinders their ability to call for medical help, leaving them vulnerable during health emergencies.
What has been the government's response?
The government has been criticized for its lack of response, leaving the community without support or solutions to their dire situation.