Islandwide blackout hits Cuba as its fuel reserve dwindles

Cuba has been plagued by an islandwide power outage on Monday after the country's fuel reserve crunch and as aging grid crumbles.

The cause is under investigation. The Ministry of Energy and Mines has activated protocols to restore electricity.

Fuel has been running out across Cuba since January, when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the island. Public transportation has largely been halted, and officials have cancelled tens of thousands of surgeries.

Its government says vital services continue to be protected, amidst this complex situation exacerbated by the energy blockade we face.

Meanwhile, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the U.S. of trying to "incite social unrest by strangling Cuba's fuel supply."

The outage sparked concern across Havana. Cuba produces only 40% of the fuel it needs, while the 730,000 barrels of oil delivered by a Russian tanker in late March ran out by the end of April.

The government also has been rationing power with intentional outages that can stretch to more than 24 consecutive hours.

A blackout in mid-May affected the island's eastern provinces, while a blackout in mid-March struck the entire island.

More updates on tonight's News at Seven Thirty.