Havana protests surge amid severe energy, gas and water shortages

Residents of Havana's El Vedado and central neighborhoods staged pot‑banging demonstrations after enduring days without electricity, gas and water. On June 25, Cuba’s power deficit hit a record 2,208 MW, leaving about 70 % of the country in the dark. A forced‑majeure declaration by the state gas company cut service to up to 284 000 customers across eight districts, while more than 376 000 residents reported water interruptions.

The protests, the largest since the July 2021 unrest, have been met with police deployments, special‑forces units and arrests – at least 38 documented detentions during June, including minors. Demonstrators have shifted chants from basic service demands to calls for freedom and an end to the dictatorship, reflecting deepening public frustration with Cuba’s deteriorating infrastructure and prolonged outages.