Cuba’s electrical grid collapses again, plunging island into darkness

HAVANA, Cuba experienced a total power outage on Friday, leaving millions without electricity amid a US-led pressure campaign that has significantly hampered oil supplies to the Caribbean's largest island. The blackout occurred around 2pm local time, originating from a failure in high-voltage transmission lines in central Cuba.

Cuba's National Electrical Union (UNE) reported that power has since been gradually restored to isolated neighborhoods in Havana, primarily near hospitals, yet the majority of the city remained in complete darkness under overcast skies and rain. This marks the sixth national blackout in less than a year, a stark contrast to the frequent but typically less severe power cuts previously endured by the nation.

Residents of Havana, accustomed to prolonged periods without electricity, were already without power when the blackout struck. One resident, Frank Lorenzo, recounted his frustration: "Yesterday I'd gone without power for 24 hours. They turned the lights on for an hour, and then the grid collapsed." The country's aging power generation system has been strained by fuel shortages and outdated infrastructure for years, but the recent US-imposed oil blockade, initiated in January, has exacerbated the situation, leading to more frequent and prolonged grid collapses.

Human rights experts from the United Nations have criticized the US oil blockade, deeming it a violation of international law. They warn that Cuba may become a "silent Gaza," as shortages and blackouts continue to worsen.