Nationwide Power Outage Hits Cuba as Power Grid Collapses

Cuba suffered an islandwide blackout Monday night after officials reported a total collapse of the national electrical grid, leaving its 11 million residents without power.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines described a “complete disconnection” of the system and said crews were working to restart thermoelectric plants.

It is the third major blackout in four months.

By late Monday, state media reported that power had been restored to about 42,000 customers, roughly 5% of the city, along with several hospitals. Officials, however, warned that the restored circuits remain unstable and could fail again.

Cuba’s power system has deteriorated in recent years due to ageing infrastructure, fuel shortages, and limited access to spare parts. The Associated Press reports that much of the grid has exceeded its operational lifespan, making it increasingly prone to large-scale outages.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel said last week that Cuba had not received oil shipments for three months. The country has relied instead on solar energy, natural gas, and thermoelectric generation, but the mix has not met national demand. Hospitals have been forced to postpone surgeries, and households continue to lose food to spoilage.

The blackout comes as Cuba continues to face pressure from the United States. The Trump administration has restricted oil shipments and demanded political reforms, with President Trump calling Cuba a “very weakened nation” and suggesting he could “take” the island.