Millions of Cubans lost electricity when the country’s entire power grid suffered a complete disconnection on Friday afternoon local time. The nationwide outage was attributed to a transmission fault combined with adverse weather conditions in the central region of the island. Grid operators activated protocols for gradual power restoration, with some priority areas including medical facilities and water stations in Havana receiving electricity by late evening.
The blackout represents the sixth significant power disruption to affect Cuba during the year. Chronic electricity shortages have been attributed to aging infrastructure and persistent fuel supply constraints. The situation has been compounded by restrictions on oil shipments, with the island heavily dependent on imported petroleum to meet its energy needs. A blockade on fuel entering the country has intensified existing supply problems, contributing to cascading effects across multiple sectors.
The widespread power cuts have created hardship for residents, with citizens reporting multiple consecutive outages and extended periods without electricity. Limited power availability has disrupted daily life, forcing schools and government offices to close and hampering hospital operations. Some residents described the blackouts as increasingly frequent occurrences that compound other shortages affecting food, medicine, water, and cooking fuel.
The energy crisis has triggered rare public demonstrations in a country where unauthorized protests are restricted. Cuban officials have attributed the fuel shortage to US sanctions policies, including measures announced earlier in the year. Supply sources have been further reduced following developments in Venezuela, which had previously supplied a substantial portion of Cuba’s petroleum needs. The situation remains unresolved, with restoration efforts ongoing as of the following day.
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