Cuba hit by another nationwide blackout
Havana, Aug 3
Cuba was hit by another nationwide blackout, the National Electric Union said.
The union said in a statement on social media that the country's national power system experienced a total disconnection at 22:43 local time (0243 GMT) on Sunday.
A partial collapse of Cuba's National Electric System left western provinces without electricity on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency
Cuba has struggled to import fuel and repair its ageing power plants due to the impact of US sanctions, the statement said.
Since October 2024, Cuba has suffered several nationwide blackouts due to power facility failures, hurricanes and other factors.
Earlier on August 1, the National Electric Union said that the country was hit by a partial collapse of its national electric system affecting provinces from Matanzas to Pinar del Rio.
The union said in a statement that the incident occurred at 18:07 p.m. local time on Saturday, triggered by the tripping of transmission lines.
Additionally, a partial collapse of Cuba's National Electric System left western provinces without electricity on Saturday.
In a brief statement on social media, the union said the failure occurred between the provinces of Matanzas and Pinar del Rio at 6:07 p.m. local time (2207 GMT) and was caused by transmission line trips.
Earlier in July, a 100-page report by the US State Department accused the Cuban government of playing a leading role in shaping "America's most famous and influential extremist movements," and of operating espionage and subversion networks on US soil.
Cuba rejected the report, saying it promotes a false narrative aimed at justifying Washington's longstanding policy of aggression against the island country.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said in a post on social media platform X that the report was promoted by "one of the most corrupt officials in the current administration, with proven ties to drug traffickers and terrorists in Florida."
Diaz-Canel said the decades-long US embargo and the recent fuel ban were part of a policy intended to turn Cubans against their revolutionary government.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The US sanctions on Cuba have been going on for decades. It's not just about blackouts - it's about basic survival. We in India have faced our own energy challenges, but this is on another level. The international community should speak up against these inhumane sanctions.
Why is this happening again and again? The Cuban government needs to find alternatives, maybe like India's solar push. Relying on old plants and imported fuel is not sustainable. Still, standing with the Cuban people - they've endured too much.
The US State Department report sounds like a typical smear campaign. It's ironic - they blame Cuba for 'extremism' while their sanctions cause this misery. Our PM must raise this at the UN. Cuba deserves solidarity, not isolation.
I'm an American, but I've visited Cuba and the people are wonderful. The blackouts are tragic, but blaming 'US sanctions' alone might be oversimplified. Cuba also needs to invest in infrastructure and renewable energy. That said, the embargo definitely doesn't help.
This is what happens when politics overrides humanity. Cuba isn't a threat to anyone, yet the US treats it like an enemy. We Indians remember the Emergency - we know how important it is to support nations fighting for their sovereignty. Blackouts during a pandemic is cruel. 🌍
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.