Cuba plunged into darkness after national power grid fails

globalnews.ca:

Cuba plunged into a countrywide blackout on Friday after one of the island’s major power plants failed and caused the national electrical grid to shut down, its energy ministry said.

The Communist-run government had already closed schools and non-essential industry and sent most state workers home in a last-ditch effort to keep the lights on during severe power shortages.

But shortly before midday, the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the country’s largest and most efficient, went offline, prompting a total grid failure and leaving approximately 10 million people without power.

Officials did not say what had caused the plant to fail.

“There will be no rest until (power) is restored,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on X.

The blackout marks a new low point on an island where life has become increasingly unbearable, with residents already suffering from shortages of food, fuel, water and medicine.

The electricity shortages had already prompted officials to cancel all non-vital government services on Friday. Schools, including universities, were shuttered through Sunday. Recreational and cultural activities, including night clubs, were also ordered closed.

Officials said in mid-afternoon they had begun taking steps to restore power but that the process would take time.

Virtually all commerce in the capital Havana ground to a halt on Friday. Many residents sat sweating on doorsteps. Tourists hunkered down in frustration.

“We went to a restaurant and they had no food because there was no power, now we are also without internet,” said Brazilian tourist Carlos Roberto Julio, who had recently arrived in Havana. “In two days, we have already had several problems.”

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero late on Thursday blamed