A fire at an oil refinery in Cuba has been swiftly brought under control, coinciding with the country facing escalating fuel shortages. Black smoke was observed rising from the Ñico López Refinery located in the capital, Havana, on Friday.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as confirmed by Cuba's Energy Ministry through a post on social media. The fire occurred near where two oil tankers were docked in Havana Bay.

Cuba's fuel predicament has significantly deteriorated following the United States' blockade against oil shipments from Venezuela to the island.

Historically, Venezuela, a long-time ally of Cuba, exported around 35,000 barrels of oil daily. However, this supply has been severely disrupted following U.S. military actions in Caracas earlier this year, which also included the confiscation of Venezuelan oil tankers.

The U.S. administration has additionally threatened new tariffs against countries that continue to supply oil to Cuba, further compounding the island's fuel woes. President Donald Trump has pressured Cuban leaders to negotiate solutions or face dire consequences.

The pervasive electricity cuts in Cuba have reached critical sectors, affecting hospital emergency departments and essential services, notably distressing dialysis patients reliant on consistent power supply. The nation is now facing aviation fuel shortages as well, prompting several airlines to suspend routes to the island, and travel advisories against non-essential trips have been issued by countries like the UK.

To mitigate the impact of fuel rationing on everyday life, authorities have restricted public services and made modifications to healthcare, education, and tourism operations. Recent developments saw two Mexican vessels delivering 800 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Havana Bay as the oil embargo continues to hamper access to essential supplies.

UN human rights experts have condemned the U.S. sanctions regarding oil imports into Cuba, labeling them an extreme form of unilateral economic coercion. Volker Türk, the UN human rights chief, expressed profound concern over the escalating crisis within the country.

It is important to note that U.S. economic and trade embargoes against Cuba have been in place since 1960, effectively limiting the country's ability to secure vital resources.

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