Cuba's blackouts leave high-rise residents in constant uncertainty
BBC Latin America correspondent Will Grant spoke to a 70-year-old widow in a Havana high-rise whose elevator was idle during prolonged blackouts, trapping her and her husband as he needed urgent medical care. The account illustrates how the island's deepening energy crisis is hitting everyday life.
BBC Latin AmericaBBC Latin America's Will Grant filed a video from Havana documenting how rolling blackouts of 12 to 16 hours a day across the island translate into medical emergencies in older-adult households. The widow Marta Rivera, 70, described how an idle elevator in her tower blocked access to urgent care for her dying husband.
International Energy Agency data show Cuba's electricity output has fallen since 2024 because of pressure on fuel supply and maintenance backlogs at ageing thermal plants. State utility Union Electrica's notices indicate planned outages may lengthen during summer peak demand, while UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs representative Carlos Martínez called for regional cooperation on humanitarian corridors.
Wilson Center researcher Cynthia Arnson said the US embargo and recent tariff measures have squeezed Cuba's economy, while Havana's political messaging links the energy strain to external pressure. The Caribbean Community CARICOM will open a humanitarian dialogue table in Bridgetown next week. This piece is not medical advice.
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