EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT MAIN HAVANA POWER PLANT

Havana without electricity.

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- A generator at a power plant in the Cuban capital exploded Thursday, cutting off power to much of the city, a Cuban government news agency reported. There were no reports of injuries.

The Prensa Latina news agency reported that the blast ignited a blaze at the Tallapiedra plant, which was brought under control by midafternoon.

Police evacuated the heavily populated area around the plant. The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. Power was cut to wide swaths of the city of more than 2 million people.

The fire at the plant could add to Cuba's difficulties in recovering from an economic slump caused by the loss of massive subsidies from the former Soviet Union.

The rise of oil prices this year led to fears the government might have to increase the length of its electrical blackouts.

Return to Index