Cuba Becomes Ghosttown After Blackout

(Rightallegiance.com) – Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout on Friday, plunging the entire country into darkness just hours after government officials emphasized the urgent need to curb economic activity to conserve electricity. The crisis follows a prolonged struggle with significant gasoline shortages and frequent power outages that have plagued the island nation.

⚠️ENTIRE POWER GRID COLLAPSE IN CUBA

Millions Plunged into Darkness as Power Grid Fails

Cuba's national electrical grid shut down on Friday after one of the island's major power plants failed, plunging the entire country into a blackout.

The Communist-run government earlier in… pic.twitter.com/K6GfS1ljof

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According to Cuba’s Energy Ministry, the outage was triggered by a failure at a thermoelectric power plant located in Matanzas, east of the capital, Havana. The announcement came via social media platform X, highlighting the severity of the situation as it unfolded.

The blackout arrived on the heels of a late-night address by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, who convened state officials to discuss the dire electricity crisis. In his address, he described the current challenges as potentially the worst the country has faced in its history, a stark reality for a nation already grappling with chronic food and energy shortages.

For several weeks, Cuba has been hindered by a critical lack of fuel necessary to sustain its power grid. This has resulted in extensive power outages, with many areas experiencing electricity cuts lasting between 15 to 20 hours. The prime minister emphasized the need for the population to reduce electricity consumption to alleviate the strain on the grid, stating, “When electricity does return, demand surges, further straining the power grid.”

In an effort to mitigate the escalating crisis, government officials announced a series of immediate measures. All schools will remain closed until Monday, and various cultural and nonessential activities, including nightclubs, have been ordered to cease operations. These steps are part of a broader strategy to conserve energy and prioritize electricity for essential services.

As the situation develops, many Cubans are left grappling with the reality of life in a country where electricity shortages have become a common occurrence. The government’s calls for reduced usage and the implementation of emergency measures reflect the urgent need for solutions to address the ongoing energy crisis that continues to impact daily life across the nation.