HAVANA (Reuters) – Unprecedented Power Outages Plague Cuba as Fuel Shortages Worsen
On Thursday evening, more than half of Cuba was plunged into darkness as the government grappled with fuel shortages and malfunctioning power plants. The National Electric Union reported a deficit of nearly 1600 megawatts, leaving millions without basic necessities like lights, fans, and air conditioning.
While parts of Havana experienced intermittent blackouts throughout the day, provinces like Pinar del Rio were completely without power for a significant period. The situation slightly improved by Friday morning, but authorities warned that a third of the island would face blackouts again as demand peaked later in the day.
This recent escalation follows months of frequent power outages in Cuba, attributed to aging oil-fired power plants that continue to fail. The country’s Communist-run government, grappling with U.S. sanctions, is struggling to secure fuel on the global market.
The economic crisis in Cuba has deepened, leading to severe shortages of essential items like food, fuel, and medicine. This dire situation has prompted a surge in Cubans leaving the island, exacerbating the country’s challenges.
**Analysis:**
The power crisis in Cuba has reached unprecedented levels, with over half of the island experiencing blackouts due to fuel shortages and malfunctioning power plants. This situation has not only disrupted daily life for millions of Cubans but has also exacerbated the country’s existing economic crisis, leading to severe shortages of essential goods. The government’s struggles to secure fuel on the global market, coupled with U.S. sanctions, have further compounded the challenges faced by the Communist-run nation. The ongoing exodus of Cubans seeking better opportunities elsewhere has added to the country’s woes, highlighting the urgency of addressing these pressing issues for the well-being of its citizens and the stability of the nation’s economy.