SANTIAGO DE CUBA — Residents of a large apartment complex in this eastern city are increasingly relying on charcoal and firewood for cooking amid severe fuel shortages that have intensified over the past year. The shortages are linked to an ongoing oil blockade that has restricted Cuba’s access to imported fuel, creating hardship for many families.

Yusimi Castellano, 58, a resident on the 18th floor of one of five 18-story buildings, described resorting to a makeshift iron stove to prepare meals for her family. Using charcoal ignited with Styrofoam and plastic as kindling, she cooks despite suffering from asthma and experiencing frequent coughing and shortness of breath. “I shouldn’t be cooking with charcoal,” she said. “But if I don’t cook, I die.”

The apartment complex, home to around 600 units and built four decades ago as a symbol of Cuba’s revolutionary progress, now sees residents grappling with unreliable electricity and scarce fuel. Some have resorted to gathering firewood for cooking, underscoring the severity of the scarcity.

The crisis in Santiago de Cuba reflects broader economic distress across the country, which has been exacerbated by tightened U.S. sanctions implemented during the Trump administration. These measures have aimed to cut off Cuba from Venezuelan oil shipments, a critical source of energy for the island. The situation worsened after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, prompting a halt in fuel deliveries. Additional U.S. threats to enforce tariffs against countries and companies supplying oil have sharply reduced Cuba’s foreign fuel imports.

The oil blockade has disrupted everyday life nationwide, leading to shortages in transportation, electricity, and household energy supplies. While officials have acknowledged challenges, they have emphasized efforts to secure alternative sources and implement rationing measures.

For residents like Ms. Castellano, the energy shortfall has forced difficult adaptations and health risks, highlighting the intersection of geopolitical tensions and grassroots hardships. The ongoing fuel crisis remains a central concern for communities throughout Cuba, where long-standing economic woes are intensified by external pressures.