Cuba takes emergency measures after millions of people go without electricity

Cuba's communist government announced late Thursday that it will shut down all non essential workplaces within its vast state sector. This is part of a desperate attempt to stop the blackouts, which now last more than 12 hours per day on the island for millions of residents.

Cuba has experienced a week of dramatic power outages, even though the island is used to severe shortages. Many areas outside of Havana have less than six-hours of electricity per day. Entire provinces are without power for several hours.

The current crisis is being blamed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero on a perfect storm that most Cubans are familiar with - deteriorating roads, fuel shortages, and rising demand.

Marrero stated that "the fuel shortage is the main factor" in a televised broadcast on Thursday evening. The message was delayed by several hours due to technical problems.

Officials said that the strong winds and heavy waves caused by Hurricane Milton, which passed through the island last week, have made it impossible for the island to transport fuel from offshore boats to its power plants.

The government announced that the island's largest power plants, Antonio Guiteras, and Felton are both underproducing. They will be soon taken off line for maintenance as part of a 4-year plan to revitalize Cuba’s decrepit Infrastructure.

Marrero stated that the electricity rates charged to Cuba's private businesses will soon increase. According to authorities, these businesses tend consume a lot of energy.

The distribution of fuel around the Caribbean’s largest island is expected to boost power generation in the near future, according to officials from the Electricity Department.

Residents of the island have been suffering severe shortages in food, fuel and water, making life on the island unbearable. This has led to a mass exodus from the island.

(source: Reuters)