A nationwide blackout in Cuba left many without power once again, just as electricity was being restored after a previous blackout. The collapse of the electrical grid on Saturday caused alarm across the country, with people struggling to find food and deal with spoiled items in their refrigerators. The government tried to mitigate the blackout by closing schools and keeping most state workers home, but power outages have been chronic in Cuba for years due to the country’s aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, increasing energy demand, fuel shortages, and the U.S. embargo that has made it difficult to import parts.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the embargo for the lack of fuel and hard currency needed for the country’s energy system. Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, also cited the embargo as the cause of the economic damage and stated that blackouts would continue regularly until it is removed. The economic crisis in Cuba, exacerbated by tightened U.S. sanctions and the impact of the pandemic on tourism, has led to shortages in food, medicine, water, and fuel.
The situation has prompted a massive migration from the island, with over one million people, or 10% of Cuba’s population, fleeing between 2022 and 2023. The lack of oil supply from Venezuela, Cuba’s main supplier, and other countries has further worsened the economic crisis. Despite efforts by the government to restore electricity, the blackout serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Cuban citizens.
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