HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban authorities mentioned late on Saturday they might not tolerate “public dysfunction” because the island’s emergency employees cleared particles and labored to revive energy to components of western Cuba nonetheless at midnight 4 days after the passage of Hurricane Rafael.

Rafael blew down lots of of transmission traces and poles throughout the western Cuba, knocking out energy to the whole nation of 10 million individuals and sparking scattered protests.

Cuba’s prime prosecutor mentioned it had pressed fees and “preventively” detained individuals in Havana, Mayabeque and Ciego de Avila provinces for “assault, public dysfunction and vandalism.”

“(Such crimes) distinction with the selfless and supportive perspective of all those that, in present circumstances, are devoted to serving to the nation get well,” the prosecutor mentioned in an announcement.

“Actions carried out within the territories to get well providers should be accompanied by a local weather of order, self-discipline and respect for authorities.”

The temporary notice included no specifics in regards to the arrests or the crimes dedicated.

Greater than 85% of the capital Havana had seen energy restored by Sunday morning, Cuba’s grid operator mentioned. However some residents on social media reported scattered pot-banging in protest of constant blackouts.

Artemisa and Pinar del Rio provinces, tougher hit by Rafael, had been nonetheless largely with out energy on Sunday.

Rolling blackouts are anticipated to proceed all through the nation, as Cuba’s antiquated oil-fired era vegetation fail to provide ample electrical energy to satisfy demand.

Protests in communist-run Cuba are exceedingly uncommon however have cropped up extra usually as tensions flare over hours-long every day blackouts and shortages of water, gas, meals and drugs.

Though Cuba’s 2019 structure grants residents the appropriate to protest, a legislation extra particularly defining that proper has for years been stalled within the legislature, leaving those that take to the road in authorized limbo.

Rights teams, the European Union and america critiqued Cuba’s response to anti-government protests on July 11, 2021 – the biggest since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution – as heavy-handed and repressive.

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot)