Cuba hit with seventh major blackout of the year

HAVANA - Cuba has experienced its seventh major blackout of the year on Friday, due to fuel shortages on the U.S.-blockaded island, according to state-run utility UNE. Only 5% of residents in Havana had power by Friday evening, with the country enduring constant power cuts due to its aging thermoelectric plants and poor internal management.

The latest blackout occurred after a failure in transmission lines and unstable weather conditions, the energy ministry stated on X. The nationwide blackout, the 12th since late 2024, follows a de facto energy blockade imposed by Washington in an attempt to pressure Havana's communist government. The crisis has worsened since January, when the U.S. tightened its economic sanctions, causing a severe lack of fuel for power plants and backup generators, which typically run on imported diesel.

The situation has become increasingly dire, with blackouts lasting more than 30 hours in the capital and up to 60 hours in outlying provinces. The cuts have also affected the water supply and mobile phone network, exacerbating residents' living conditions.