Cuba's power grid collapses again, second outage this week, fourth this year

Cuba's already strained electrical grid suffered another nationwide collapse on Friday, marking the second such outage in a single week and the fourth this year. The recurring blackouts have plunged the island nation of nearly 10 million people into darkness, highlighting the critical state of its infrastructure.

This latest widespread power failure comes just days after a similar outage on Monday. While authorities managed to restore power to most areas by Tuesday evening, significant regions, including the second-largest city Santiago, remain without electricity due to severe fuel shortages. The reasons behind Monday's outage are still under investigation, according to officials.

The chronic power issues are a direct consequence of an aging grid combined with persistent fuel shortages, which have been worsened by ongoing U.S. sanctions. These factors have deepened Cuba's existing economic and financial crisis. The impact is far-reaching, with public transportation largely paralyzed and hospitals forced to cancel tens of thousands of surgeries.

Daily life for Cubans has become increasingly difficult, with planned power outages sometimes exceeding 24 hours. The frequency of these blackouts is escalating social tensions, echoing the widespread anti-government protests that occurred in July 2021. Businesses are suffering significant losses, with one shop owner in Havana reporting that all her perishable goods spoiled during the latest outage, describing it as an economic blow.

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All the food will spoil, this is an economic blow.