Cuba suffers third nationwide power grid collapse in nine days

Cuba's national electricity grid collapsed on Tuesday (July 14) for the third time in nine days, leaving the island without power once again amid a deepening energy crisis.

Cuba's Energy Ministry said there had been a "total disconnection" of the national electrical system, confirming another nationwide blackout affecting the country of about 10 million people, Caliber.Az reports, citing British media.

The repeated outages come as Cuba struggles with severe fuel shortages and an aging power infrastructure. U.S. sanctions have sharply reduced the island's access to imported oil, worsening the energy crisis.

The situation intensified after the United States imposed an oil blockade on Cuba following the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power on January 3. Venezuela had long been Cuba's main fuel supplier, while U.S. pressure also prompted Mexico to stop oil shipments to the island.

The prolonged power cuts have heightened public frustration. Last week's nationwide blackout triggered scattered pot-banging protests in parts of Havana as residents voiced anger over the continuing electricity shortages.

By Aghakazim Guliyev