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Cuba experienced yet another collapse of its electrical grid on Sunday, marking the fourth outage in just 48 hours, further exacerbating the island’s already dire shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. The repeated failures have raised concerns about the government’s ability to quickly resolve the crisis in a country where the majority of the population has been enduring frequent blackouts for months.

After the initial power plant shutdown on Friday, which left around 10 million people without electricity, the grid has faltered three more times, highlighting the fragility of Cuba’s infrastructure. President Miguel Diaz-Canel appeared on national television in military attire, urging citizens to express their grievances peacefully amid the situation.

The capital city of Havana was plunged into darkness on Sunday evening, with only a few businesses and homes running on generators. Despite a heavy police presence, scattered protests erupted in some neighborhoods, with residents venting their frustration over the lack of essential services. The government’s efforts to restore power were further complicated by the impact of Tropical Storm Oscar, which hit the island on Sunday.

Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the blackouts but emphasized the need for cooperation from the population. Despite some progress in restoring power to parts of Havana, a total grid collapse on Sunday evening set back the restoration efforts, potentially prolonging the widespread outages.

The government attributed the worsening blackouts to infrastructure deterioration, fuel shortages, and increased demand, exacerbated by international factors such as the U.S. trade embargo and reduced fuel imports from key suppliers like Venezuela and Mexico. The situation has left many Cubans struggling to cope without basic necessities like water, electricity, and internet access.

As the government grapples with the crisis, concerns remain about the country’s ability to address the root causes of the ongoing power outages, which have further strained an already struggling population.

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