Cuba Plunged into Darkness as National Electricity Grid Collapses

Cuba's national electricity grid collapsed on Monday, plunging millions into darkness and paralyzing daily life on the island. The outage exacerbates the country's ongoing struggles with shortages of energy, fuel, and medicine.

The grid operator, UNE, announced that electricity has been restored to some vital services, including hospitals and food production centers. However, officials reported that as of Monday afternoon, only 1% of the capital city Havana's electricity demand could be met. The government has not yet provided an official explanation for the cause of the national grid's collapse.

Cubans have been enduring power outages lasting hours, and more recently, days. These cuts are attributed to aging electrical infrastructure and severe problems with fuel supply. The situation has worsened for Cubans already exhausted by rolling blackouts, making it difficult to work and sleep in the Caribbean summer heat. Before the grid's complete collapse on Monday, approximately two-thirds of the country was already without power, limiting communication for many.

Monday's nationwide blackout marks the eighth major outage in Cuba since October 2025 and the third this year. The energy crisis is deepening due to aging infrastructure and a shrinking fuel supply. Analysts point to the U.S. administration's actions, including halting fuel shipments from Venezuela to Cuba and pressuring Mexico, as primary reasons for the crisis. Washington designates the Cuban government as a national security threat, arguing sanctions are necessary to force political change, while Havana maintains it poses no threat to the U.S.