Cuban protests after Hurricane Ian fade

[El Presidente]

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuban-protests-after-hurricane-ian-fade-anger-over-shortages-simmers-2022-10-03/

HAVANA, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Cuba had restored power to most of Havana on Monday following Hurricane Ian, defusing tension in the capital after scattered protests last week, though anger still simmered on the streets as residents struggled to replace food and supplies squandered by blackouts.

Hurricane Ian knocked out power to the entire island of 11 million people last Tuesday. Cuban officials scrambled to turn on the lights for Havana but the pace was not fast enough for some, who took to the streets in the largest protests since widespread anti-government rallies in July 2021.

Much of western Cuba, the area hit hardest by the hurricane, was still without power on Monday.

The protests in Havana appeared to have subsided by Sunday evening, but long lines for food, fuel and medicine - typical in Cuba even before the hurricane - had formed again in the city on Monday morning.

"This has been terrible. No light, no food, we lost everything in our freezer," said Maria Carla Catala, 25, who stood on a Havana street corner holding her son as she waited in line for food. "Now we wait to see what appears in the stores to try to recuperate what was lost."