Photo: ANTONIO LEVI / AFP / Getty Images
The entire island of Cuba has been plunged into darkness following the failure of one of its major power plants, the Antonio Guiteras Power Plant. The incident occurred on Friday, causing a total disconnection of the National Electrical System from 11 a.m. ET, according to Cuba's energy ministry. The blackout has affected the country's population of 10 million people, leaving them without electricity.
In Havana, motorists struggled to navigate the city as street lights failed to work, and only a few police officers were seen directing traffic. Generators, a luxury for most Cubans, were scarce. The government had earlier attempted to conserve energy by closing schools and instructing most state workers to stay home, but these measures proved insufficient.
Cuba's Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, stated in a televised address that much of the country's limited production was halted to avoid completely leaving people without power. Marrero also mentioned that fuel shortages had left much of Cuba in the dark, but upcoming boat shipments would improve the situation.
The blackout is the latest in a series of power outages that have plagued the island for months. The Cuban government has attributed these to a combination of factors, including increased US economic sanctions, disruptions caused by recent hurricanes, and the impoverished state of the island’s infrastructure.
Seven of the eight thermoelectric plants that supply energy to Cuba are broken or under maintenance. Additionally, 37 power generation plants are out of service due to a lack of fuel.
The Cuban government is giving "absolute priority" to solving the problem, according to President Miguel Díaz-Canel. However, authorities have not provided a timeline for when power will be restored.