Cuba's power outages trap high-rise residents

Cuba's prolonged energy crisis is hitting apartment block residents particularly hard, leaving them stranded without lifts during power cuts. A 70-year-old widow described how she was unable to get timely medical care for her spouse because the lift was unusable.

Cuba has endured years of energy crisis, creating serious difficulties in daily life — especially for residents of high-rise buildings who depend on lifts. During power cuts, many people become trapped in their flats, unable to leave quickly or access vital assistance.

A 70-year-old widow told journalist Will Grant how both she and her husband were left stranded when he needed medical attention, as the building's lift was not working due to a power cut. The woman described how uncertainty — not knowing when power would return, how long the outage would last — makes life a constant state of tension.

The human cost of the crisis

Cuba's energy crisis is not merely a technical problem — it has direct consequences for people's health and safety. The elderly and people with mobility issues are particularly vulnerable, as they often cannot navigate the stairs in apartment buildings. In emergency medical situations, the absence of functioning lifts can mean a direct threat to life.

Power cuts have become an almost daily occurrence in Cuba, leaving residents in a state of constant uncertainty. People do not know when power will return or for how long it will be cut, making any kind of planning difficult.