Cuba's Energy Crisis: A Nation in the Dark

Cuba's national power grid suffered a critical failure early Thursday, plunging the island's eastern provinces into darkness, authorities reported. The capital, Havana, experienced sustained blackouts amid the ongoing economic crisis, worsened by a US energy blockade.

The Electric Union noted that the failure affected regions from Guantanamo to Ciego de Avila, though crews were actively working to resolve the situation without specifying a timeline for restoration. The previous day, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel warned of a 'tense' energy situation following depleted oil supplies.

Residents, facing 24-hour blackouts, expressed their frustration through protests, as Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy described the grid as 'critical'. The government has blamed US sanctions for the turmoil, a move aimed at pressuring Cuba toward political reform.

(With inputs from agencies.)