Anti-government protests erupted in central Cuba this week as angry crowds took to the streets to denounce the country’s worsening economic crisis and repeated nationwide blackouts.
The demonstrations broke out in the city of Morón in Cuba’s Ciego de Ávila province, where residents gathered outside the local headquarters of the Communist Party.
Videos circulating online showed crowds marching through darkened streets chanting “Libertad,” the Spanish word for freedom.
The protests quickly escalated as demonstrators surrounded the government building and began throwing objects through the windows.
Footage showed furniture being dragged out of the building and burned in the street as fires spread around the area.
Authorities later confirmed that five people were arrested following the unrest.
According to reports, the protest initially began as a peaceful gathering but turned destructive as frustration boiled over.
Demonstrators vandalized the Communist Party office and set fire to furniture and equipment taken from inside the building.
Some protesters were also seen throwing stones while others chanted slogans condemning the communist government.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire during the chaotic scenes, though officials have not confirmed the source of the shots.
Local media aligned with the Cuban government denied that anyone was injured by gunfire and claimed images circulating online were misleading.
Officials instead said one participant was injured after falling during the disturbance, per Trending Politics.
The demonstrations come amid a deepening crisis across the island.
Cuba has faced widespread power outages, severe food shortages, and an increasingly unstable electricity grid.
Residents in many areas have endured blackouts lasting up to 15 hours at a time.
Fuel shortages have played a major role in the country’s deteriorating power supply.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently confirmed that no petroleum shipments have reached the island for three months.
The energy crisis has forced the government to rely on a patchwork system of natural gas, solar power and aging thermoelectric plants.
The collapse of one major power plant earlier this month triggered nationwide outages affecting much of the country.
The protests in Morón are part of a growing wave of unrest.
Students at the University of Havana staged a rare sit-in protest earlier this week after energy shortages disrupted classes and internet service.
In several Havana neighborhoods, residents have also taken part in nighttime “cacerolazos,” banging pots and pans in protest of the blackouts.
These demonstrations reflect mounting frustration with the country’s struggling economy and deteriorating living conditions.
Cuba has experienced thousands of protests in recent years as citizens increasingly voice dissatisfaction with shortages and poor public services.
Despite the growing unrest, large-scale demonstrations remain relatively rare due to fears of government retaliation.
The Cuban government has historically responded to protests with arrests and internet shutdowns to prevent images from spreading online.
Meanwhile, talks between Cuba and the United States have recently begun amid the island’s worsening crisis.
President Díaz-Canel confirmed discussions are underway with the Trump administration to address tensions between the two countries.
As part of those talks, Cuban officials have pledged to release 51 political prisoners.
