Cuba plunged into darkness as electrical grid suffers fresh collapse
Cuba鈥檚 energy grid has collapsed, leaving millions without power, the latest in a series of failures on an island struggling from creaking infrastructure, natural disasters and economic turmoil.
The state-run utility company, the Cuban Electric Union, said workers were attempting to get the grid back online but local officials warned residents the difficult process of restoring power to aging Soviet-era power stations could take days.
Cuba鈥檚 top energy producer, the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas, suffered an overnight failure, prompting the grid鈥檚 collapse on Wednesday, the company said.
The government has ordered the 鈥渟uspension of work and teaching activities,鈥� Cuba鈥檚 Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feito said.
鈥淭his measure will remain in place for the duration of the crisis. Vital services will continue to function and there will be no salary impact,鈥� state media quoted her as saying.
For nearly a week in October most of Cuba suffered near-total blackouts, the worst energy outages in decades.
The island鈥檚 government blames U.S. economic sanctions for the ongoing crisis on the island although critics also fault a lack of government investment in infrastructure.
Cuba鈥檚 energy and mines ministry said 鈥渃onditions are more favorable now than in the last disconnection鈥� and that the system was gradually being restored.
