HAVANA, Sept 8, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A blackout struck a third of Cuba's provinces on Sunday, worsening conditions on the island where power outages are relentless and some towns receive only three hours of electricity daily.

Cuba is suffering a severe energy crisis due to deteriorating infrastructure that includes eight obsolete thermoelectric plants and generators requiring the country's scarce fuel as well as an equally depleted power grid.

The installation of 28 Chinese-backed solar parks out of 52 planned this year has failed to reduce outages. This summer, scheduled blackouts were extended even in Havana, reaching up to 10 hours daily in some areas.

Utility provider Cuban Electricity Union said a 220 kV power line tripped in eastern Cuba, "causing the system to go offline" in five of 15 provinces -- Las Tunas, Granma, Holguin, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo.

"The causes are being investigated and work is underway to restore the system," the company said on X.

In Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city with over one million inhabitants, 60-year-old resident Javier Garcia said his family did not immediately notice the outage.

"We were already in a blackout, so we found out about the outage through the networks," he told AFP by phone. "Let's see when the hell they'll turn it on."

In Holguin province, Maritza Saldivar said her home has endured "many days" with just three hours of electricity during the day and three at night.

"In those three hours, you have to run around and do everything: cook, load equipment," she said. "If you don't have those three hours, if there's no electricity, you can't do anything."

Saldivar added she also lacks gas and finds the coal she uses for cooking very expensive.

The supply of electricity was particularly insufficient last week. On Monday, electricity availability was 1,930 MW against demand of 3,750 MW, creating a deficit of 1,960 MW during peak evening hours.

Since October 2024, Cuba has faced four widespread blackouts, with some lasting several days.