Cuba hit with seventh major blackout of the year

Cuba was plunged into its seventh massive blackout of the year on Friday, the energy ministry said, as fuel shortages bite on the US-blockaded Island.

"A total disconnection of the electrical system has occurred," the ministry wrote on a social media, without specifying the cause. The nationwide blackout, the 12th since late 2024, occurred after a failure "in the transmission lines" paired with "unstable weather conditions," state-run utility UNE said.

In recent weeks, blackouts have lasted more than 30 hours in the capital, while in outlying provinces, they have sometimes stretched past 60 hours. The cuts have also affected the island's water supply and mobile phone network, and general living conditions are extremely tough for residents.