Anti-government protesters in Morón, a city in central Cuba, ransacked a local Communist Party office early Saturday, marking a rare public outburst of anger over prolonged blackouts and food shortages.

The demonstration began peacefully late Friday as residents rallied against persistent power cuts lasting up to 15 hours a day and steep food prices. After an exchange with local authorities, a smaller group escalated to vandalism, stoning the entrance and windows of the Municipal Party Committee building before breaking in. They removed furniture, computers, documents, and equipment from the reception area, piling it in the street to start a large fire. Nearby state-run facilities, including a pharmacy and a government market, also sustained damage.

Social media videos, verified by Reuters as originating from Morón, captured protesters hurling rocks through windows amid shouts of "libertad," or "liberty." One clip showed a gunshot sound followed by the camera panning to a person on the ground, though state media denied any gunshot injuries, attributing a circulating image to a drunken participant who fell and required hospital treatment.

Cuba's Interior Ministry deployed specialized forces to investigate, resulting in the arrest of five people on vandalism charges, according to state-run newspaper Invasor. President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the protesters' frustration as understandable but vowed no impunity for violence, stating on social media, "There will be no impunity for vandalism and violence." He blamed the crisis on a U.S. oil blockade that has halted petroleum imports for three months.

The incident unfolds against Cuba's deepening energy crisis, exacerbated by U.S. restrictions since the January 2026 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key oil supplier. President Donald Trump cut Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba and threatened tariffs on other sellers, compounding a decades-old embargo. No fuel has entered the island recently, forcing reliance on limited natural gas, solar, and thermoelectric plants, with recent breakdowns causing nationwide grid failures.

Shortages have disrupted public transport, halted in-person classes at the University of Havana, prompting a student sit-in, and led to nightly "cacerolazos," where residents bang pots in protest. Havana, recently the epicenter, now sees similar actions spreading. Morón itself was a flashpoint during the largest anti-government riots since 1959 on July 11, 2021.

Hours before the protest, Havana announced talks with Washington to address differences, signaling potential de-escalation amid economic strain. State outlet Vanguardia de Cuba dismissed social media claims of shootings as manipulation aimed at sowing fear.