Cuba Faces Nationwide Power Outage Crisis

Cuba is facing a severe energy crisis after experiencing a nationwide power outage for the second time in 24 hours, leaving millions without electricity and access to essential services. The blackout was triggered by the failure of the Antonio Guiteras power plant, which cut off the national electricity system, affecting over 10 million people. Officials from Cuba's Ministry of Energy and Mines are working to restore power, but Lázaro Guerra, head of the electricity department, has been unable to provide a clear timeline for recovery, acknowledging the complex technical challenges involved. The recent outages add to an already dire situation, where citizens face issues like halted water supply and food spoilage due to prolonged outages, compounded by an aging infrastructure and decreased fuel imports from key suppliers. Strong winds from Hurricane Milton have further complicated fuel delivery efforts. The government is attempting to link several power plants to the grid but warns that sporadic blackouts are likely to persist during the restoration process.