Germany on Tuesday issued an advisory against all non-essential travel to Cuba, where US pressure has created an oil crisis.

The Caribbean nation is reeling from a US-ordered halt in oil shipments from Caracas after American troops captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro last month.

“Cuba is facing an acute energy crisis, which is also being compounded by widespread dilapidated energy infrastructure,” the German foreign ministry said in the advisory.

The country is facing “significant shortages in energy and fuel supplies, which are affecting all areas of life” including medical care, it said.

The bulletin also noted that aircraft from abroad can currently not be refuelled in Cuba, “resulting in significant restrictions on flight operations”, and that “several hotels have already been closed”.

“Public transport, street lighting, traffic lights, cash machines, communication and security systems are already severely restricted or may fail,” it said.

The oil shortages have threatened to plunge Cuba into complete darkness, with power plants struggling to keep the lights on.