Millions in Cuba were plunged into darkness Wednesday due to widespread power outages, the latest in a series of blackouts hitting the island amid a deepening fuel crisis. Officials cited an "unexpected" shutdown at a major power plant, leaving two-thirds of the nation without electricity. The national electricity company UNE confirmed the blackout affected vast areas, including the capital, Havana.
This crisis is exacerbated by chronic fuel shortages, intensified by U.S. pressure and sanctions targeting oil shipments from Venezuela. The nation is also experiencing a shortage of aviation fuel, leading airlines like Air France to suspend services to Havana. The Antonio Guiteras thermometric plant, east of Havana, is reported as the cause of Wednesday's outage, with restoration efforts underway. This follows a pattern of failing infrastructure compounded by dwindling fuel supplies, disrupting essential services like public transport and waste collection. The island's reliance on imported fuel and its strained relationship with the U.S. continue to fuel this ongoing crisis.