Blackout leaves millions in Cuba without electricity

2012-09-10 68

Passing cars light up the streets in the Cuban capital after a widespread power failure plunged areas of the country into darkness.

Electricity went out over hundreds of miles - from the southeast, to Havana and the westernmost province of Pinar del Rio.

In Havana, off-duty police officers were called in to direct traffic as traffic lights went out.

SOUNDBITE: AFFECTED RESIDENT, LAURA FERNANDEZ, SAYING (Spanish):

"What was I doing? I was queuing to buy ice cream. The lights went off and electricity was lost."

The cause of the blackout was not officially disclosed.

But there were unconfirmed reports that it was caused by the failure of a generating plant on Cuba's southern coast.