Cuba Faces Nationwide Blackout as Power Plant Fails

Cuba is facing a nationwide blackout affecting its 10 million residents after the failure of the Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant, the country's largest. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz indicated that the situation has worsened due to deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages, and increasing energy demand, with the country experiencing its worst crisis in three decades. In an attempt to conserve energy, the government had previously closed schools and sent non-essential workers home, but these measures were insufficient. President Miguel Díaz-Canel emphasized that restoring electricity is the government's top priority, noting that the energy crisis has intensified due to reduced oil supplies from Venezuela and other sources. The blackout follows weeks of rolling blackouts lasting up to 20 hours in some regions, leaving residents feeling anxious and hopeless about the future. Authorities have not provided a timeline for power restoration, heightening public concern over the ongoing energy emergency.