A nationwide power failure has left Cuba in the dark, cutting electricity to all 11 million residents as the country’s fragile energy system buckled under pressure.
Authorities confirmed that the entire grid collapsed in what officials described as a ‘complete disconnection,’ with an investigation now underway to determine how the outage unfolded despite no immediate signs of a specific plant failure.
Efforts to bring the system back online have been slow and cautious, with electricity officials warning that rushing the process could trigger further breakdowns in an already weakened network, as per the Independent.
As night fell, homes across Havana and beyond were plunged into darkness, forcing families to rely on candles and improvised arrangements just to get through the night.
Residents described the reality on the ground as exhausting and increasingly unbearable, with many struggling to cope without basic necessities like fans or backup power sources.
This latest outage is not an isolated incident, but the third major blackout to hit the island in just four months, highlighting the growing strain on infrastructure that has steadily deteriorated over time.
Although some electricity has since been restored, including to a small portion of households in Havana and a number of hospitals, officials have warned that these limited gains remain unstable and could collapse again.
The government has pointed to external pressures as a major factor, blaming a tightening energy blockade linked to the administration of Donald Trump, which has complicated oil supply to the island.
At the same time, tensions between Washington and Cuba appear to be escalating, with reports that the United States wants leadership changes, including the removal of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, as part of broader negotiations.
Trump himself has made bold remarks about the situation, describing Cuba as weakened and suggesting he could take control of the country’s future.
Energy experts say the crisis runs deeper than politics, pointing to years of neglect that have left the grid outdated and struggling to function under normal demand.
The consequences are being felt daily by ordinary citizens, with food spoiling, medical procedures delayed, and vulnerable residents, especially the elderly, suffering the most.
For many on the island, the repeated blackouts have become a symbol of a wider crisis, with fears growing that without major changes, conditions could worsen even further.
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