Cuba's Electrical Grid Collapses, Millions Without Power

Cuba's national electrical grid collapsed on Friday night due to a failure at the Diezmero substation, resulting in widespread blackouts affecting over 10 million residents, including the capital, Havana. The blackout, which started around 8:15 p.m., left much of the country in darkness, with only a few tourist hotels operating on fuel-fired generators. This incident is part of an ongoing energy crisis that has seen hours-long rolling blackouts become routine, exacerbated by the country's aging infrastructure, fuel shortages, and economic difficulties. Officials have pointed to U.S. sanctions as a contributing factor to the energy sector's struggles. The situation is dire, with severe shortages of food, medicine, and water prompting many Cubans to flee the island in record numbers. Efforts to restore power are reportedly underway, but the implications of this latest collapse highlight the deepening crisis facing the nation.