STORY: Cubans took to the streets of Havana on Thursday (May 14) to protest crippling power outages that have left many residents without electricity for 20 hours or more each day, as summer heat tightens its grip on the Caribbean island.

The blackouts have reached a breaking point this month, with power cuts in some parts of the capital spanning 24 hours or more — threatening to spoil frozen food reserves and making sleep nearly impossible for many.

Children were among about the dozen of adults seen blocking streets, while police officers were spotted speaking with residents as they tried to lift the protest.

Cuba's energy and mines minister said this week that the island had completely run out of fuel oil and diesel, both critical to powering its electrical grid, and blamed the crisis on the U.S. blockade.

The situation has dramatically worsened since January, when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any nation supplying Cuba with fuel. Venezuela and Mexico, once the country's top suppliers of crude oil, have since cut off shipments to the island.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. PEOPLE WALKING ALONG AVENUE DURING A PROTEST OVER POWER OUTAGES

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING IN STREET

3. VEHICLES IN STREET AND PEOPLE BLOCKING AVENUE

4. CHILDREN BLOCKING STREET

5. POLICE OFFICERS SPEAKING WITH RESIDENTS

6. PEOPLE ON ROADSIDE WATCHING THE PROTEST

7. VIEW FROM MOVING CAR OF POLICE PATROL CAR AND PEOPLE BLOCKING STREET