Cuba was plunged into a massive blackout on Friday, leaving the entire island of 10 million people without electricity after its main power plant failed. The Antonio Guiteras thermonuclear power plant near Havana shut down, worsening an already dire energy crisis. Prior to the collapse, the Cuban government had been limiting electricity use, sending workers home, and shutting down schools and industries to prevent this exact scenario.
Cuban leaders were quick to blame the United States, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel accusing the U.S. embargoes of hindering their ability to maintain infrastructure and obtain fuel. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero echoed this sentiment, citing the “economic war” by the U.S. as the root cause of the crisis. However, a White House National Security Council spokesperson denied any responsibility, dismissing the claims.
The blackout has crippled tourism, with restaurants and shops closing and even internet access disrupted. Tourists like Carlos Roberto Julio from Brazil expressed frustration, saying, “We went to a restaurant and they had no food because there was no power, now we are also without internet.”
As Cuba struggles to get back on its feet, this latest crisis underscores the island’s ongoing struggles with its outdated infrastructure and tense relations with the U.S., leaving millions to cope with the harsh realities of the blackout.
