HAVANA: Protests broke out across the Cuban capital of Havana on Wednesday evening as the city confronted its worst rolling blackouts in decades amid a US blockade that has starved the island of fuel.
Crowds of hundreds of angry Cubans poured onto the streets in several outlying neighborhoods, blocking roads with burning piles of rubbish, banging pots and shouting “Turn on the lights!” and “The people, united, will never be defeated!“
Reuters witnessed multiple groups of mostly peaceful protesters in locations across the city, marking the largest single night of demonstrations in Havana since the energy crisis took hold in January.
Cuba’s energy and mines minister earlier in the day said the nation had completely run out of diesel and fuel oil, and that its power grid had entered a “critical” state.
“We have absolutely no fuel (oil), and absolutely no diesel,” Energy Minister Vicente de la O said on state-run media. “We have no reserves.”
