ISTANBUL

Cuba has plunged into darkness nationwide for the second time in a week since the country's national power network failed again, following the outage on March 16.

The Cuban Energy and Mines Ministry on Saturday announced on its account on US social media company X that the National Electric System (SEN) had completely collapsed.

The statement said that the necessary steps were being taken to restore power across the country.

It also announced that a nationwide power outage that occurred in Cuba on March 16 was also a result of the system’s collapse.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on March 13 that the island nation had been unable to import oil for about three months, adding that the electrical system was currently being kept running only through solar energy, natural gas, and the existing thermal power plants.

The energy crisis reached a breaking point in January, when the US administration of Donald Trump intensified pressure on the island.

By cutting off oil shipments from Venezuela, Cuba's primary supplier, and threatening sanctions against other fuel providers, the US has brought the Cuban economy to a standstill.

In response, President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s government has been forced to implement drastic austerity measures, including the suspension of diesel sales, strict gasoline rationing, and the reduction of non-essential hospital services.

The lack of power and basic services has fueled a wave of social unrest on the island of almost 10 million.

Several protests have erupted in recent days, most notably in Havana and the town of Moron.

Reports indicate that demonstrations in Moron turned violent, resulting in at least five arrests as security forces moved to disperse crowds.