HAVANA — On Monday, October 21, Cuba's power-grid operator announced that electricity had been restored to most of Havana, despite Tropical Storm Oscar impacting the eastern part of the island, causing downed trees and power lines.

The storm brought strong winds as it stalled over land, uprooting banana plants and damaging roofs, as shown in state television footage. Some areas received over 10 inches (254 mm) of rain, leading to landslides, flash floods, and isolating outlying regions.

While much of Havana regained power, many parts of Cuba's eastern region remained without electricity and communication following several grid failures in the past four days.

Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated that technicians were exercising caution to prevent another electrical failure due to the "complex" situation. "The last thing we want is another collapse caused by a fallen power line," he noted.

By mid-afternoon, Cuban energy officials reported that 89 percent of Havana had electricity restored, and service was also being reinstated in some surrounding provinces as the Antonio Guiteras power plant resumed operations, significantly boosting electricity generation.

A Turkish-flagged power barge was docked in Havana as the country's electrical grid experienced another collapse on Sunday, complicating the government's efforts to restore power to the island.

Cuba's Communist government has suspended schools and non-essential industries through Wednesday while work continues on restoring the power grid.

Top electricity official Lazaro Guerra acknowledged progress but cautioned against excessive optimism. "We shouldn't expect the end of blackouts when the system is back online," he said, highlighting that the grid would still produce considerably less electricity than the total demand.

The national electrical grid first failed on Friday, prior to Oscar's arrival, when the largest power plant shut down amid severe fuel shortages, leaving 10 million people without power. The grid has faced complete or partial failures three times since then, revealing the fragile state of Cuba's infrastructure and increasing the anxiety of citizens already facing critical shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.

Despite the overall calm in Havana overnight, a Reuters witness observed some small protests in impoverished neighborhoods, with residents expressing frustration by banging pots due to ongoing blackouts and shortages of food and water.

In a televised address on Sunday night, President Miguel Diaz-Canel urged Cubans to voice their complaints with discipline and respect, stating, "We will not accept or permit any acts of vandalism, much less disrupt the peace of our people."

Cubans have been experiencing prolonged blackouts of 10 to 20 hours daily for months, affecting food preservation and access to fuel and water. Both the government and independent analysts indicate that the aging grid has reached a critical point, worsened by deteriorating infrastructure and fuel shortages.

Cuba attributes its challenges to the U.S. trade embargo and sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump, which have hindered the procurement of fuel and spare parts for oil-fired power plants. However, the U.S. denies any involvement in the grid failures.

In recent months, Cuba's allies, including Russia, Mexico, and Venezuela, have reduced their exports to the island.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters