URGENT UPDATE: Cuba’s electrical grid has collapsed, resulting in a nationwide blackout that left 10 million residents without power. The Energy Ministry and the National Electric Union confirmed that the grid failure occurred at 9:14 AM on the Caribbean island, marking the fourth collapse in less than a year.
Authorities are investigating the causes of this alarming outage, while the restoration process has already begun. However, many Cubans have been enduring daily blackouts lasting over 16 hours even before this latest incident. The grid’s failure highlights the ongoing crisis in Cuba’s outdated power generation system, which has been struggling to meet the island’s energy needs.
The situation comes amid severe shortages of fuel, food, and essential goods, as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis in decades. “This is crazy for everything,” said Raúl Ernesto Gutierrez, who expressed frustration over the situation while visiting Havana. He noted that at home in the countryside, residents are forced to “cook with charcoal, with firewood,” illustrating the dire conditions many face.
Danai Hernandez, a state worker in Havana, shared her distress as she attempted to return home from work, which had just shut down due to the power outage. “I’m going home to organize everything in the household and … now we have to wait. We don’t have any other choice,” she said, visibly upset.
The collapse follows a series of blackouts that began late last year, plunging Cuba’s fragile electrical infrastructure into chaos. The country’s oil-fired power plants, already antiquated, have reached a critical point as oil imports from key partners like Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico have dwindled dramatically.
The implications of this blackout are profound, impacting daily life and economic stability for millions. As the restoration efforts unfold, Cubans are left grappling with uncertainty and frustration over their basic utilities.
As authorities work to resolve the crisis, the global community watches closely. The situation remains fluid, and residents are urged to stay tuned for updates on the restoration timeline and further developments.
For many in Cuba, the frequent power outages have become a harsh new normal, with escalating tensions as people demand solutions to an increasingly dire situation. The urgency of restoring power is palpable, as millions await reliable electricity to return to their daily lives.
