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Cuba's national power grid failed late Sunday, plunging the entire country into a nationwide blackout, according to state utility UNE. The sudden loss of electricity across Havana was met with audible groans from residents seeking respite from the summer heat.

The blackout is the latest in a series of total grid collapses, severely impacting daily life. The country has been struggling with rolling power cuts for months, attributed to aging equipment and a US energy embargo that has hindered regular fuel deliveries for power stations. These outages disrupt water supplies and essential services, creating a prolonged crisis for a population accustomed to adversity.

Residents in the most affected areas have expressed frustration through protests, including setting trash fires and banging pots and pans. The Ministry of Energy has stated that protocols to reactivate the grid are in progress. The situation is compounded by US sanctions, which have limited fuel imports. While one Russian tanker carrying crude oil was authorized to arrive in March, those reserves have since been depleted.