Havana in sixth day without power as Cuban government blames US embargo

HAVANA, Cuba — The Cuban capital has been largely without electricity, running water and communications for nearly a week, the Russian state news agency Tass reported. Officials said the national grid was restarted on July 8, two days after a total blackout on July 6, but conditions in Havana have not improved, with homes receiving power for only one or two hours once or twice a day. The widespread reliance on solar panels has not eased the strain because persistent cloud cover over the city is preventing the systems from charging fully. Fuel shortages have kept garbage trucks off the road, leaving uncollected waste piling up in the streets, while hospitals and clinics have suspended services because of power cuts, transport disruptions and problems faced by medical staff trying to reach their workplaces. The Cuban government has placed the blame on tightened US sanctions, with officials describing Washington's policy as an "overwhelming embargo." According to official Cuban figures cited by Tass, the cumulative damage from the US trade embargo has exceeded $154 billion, with losses last year recorded at roughly $4.8 billion, as the country continues to grapple with shortages of fuel, medicine and food. No timeline has been given for the restoration of full services in the capital.