Cuba Signs Tsunami Pact Amid Worsening Blackouts and Water Shortages

Lead: Cuba on September 16 formalized a Tsunami Warning Agreement with the CTBTO to bolster disaster preparedness, even as nationwide blackouts and acute water scarcities deepen hardships for over three million residents.

Nut Graf: The landmark accord grants Cuba real-time seismic data access, marking its fourth Latin American partnership with the CTBTO. Its timing underscores Havana’s effort to strengthen resilience even as aging power infrastructure and drought-driven deficits spark daily electricity cuts and water rationing.

Diplomatic Milestone: Tsunami Warning Agreement

Cuba and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization signed a Tsunami Warning Agreement in Vienna, enabling the National Centre for Seismological Research to tap into CTBTO’s global monitoring network for rapid undersea quake detection. The deal positions Cuba as the fourth Latin American nation to secure such a pact, enhancing early-warning capabilities for coastal communities.

Energy Crisis: Persistent Blackouts

The national grid continues to falter under a generation deficit of roughly 2,000 MW, with the Electric Union reporting losses of up to 1,941 MW during peak hours Monday night. Restoration efforts have failed to meet demand of 3,500 MW, leaving much of the island in prolonged darkness and forcing authorities to ration power across provinces.

Water Shortages Fuel Public Discontent

A new government report reveals that over 3.1 million Cubans-nearly 32 percent of the population-face total or partial cutoff of tap water due to drought, energy outages, and equipment failures. Reservoir levels remain 1.79 billion m³ below historic averages, and delivery cycles in some regions have stretched to 38 days, prompting localized protests and illicit connections to supply lines.