Cuba suffers seventh nationwide blackout this year amid fuel shortages

Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout on Wednesday, the seventh such incident this year and the twelfth since late 2024, according to the state-run utility UNE. The Energy Ministry announced on X that a total disconnection of the electrical system had occurred, with only 5 percent of Havana receiving electricity at the time.

UNE attributed the collapse to a failure in transmission lines and unstable weather conditions. The blackout compounds an ongoing crisis driven by fuel shortages and deteriorating infrastructure, as reported by DW. The frequency of these nationwide outages has increased sharply over the past year, reflecting the grid's fragility.

Residents described the cumulative hardship of living without basic services. "It's one thing after another: no water, no gas for cooking, no electricity," Lidia Fernandez, 36, told AFP. "Honestly, I don't know how we haven't gone crazy." Her comments underscore the daily struggles faced by Cubans as they contend with repeated disruptions to power, water, and cooking fuel.

The Cuban government has previously pointed to the U.S. fuel blockade as a key factor limiting its ability to import fuel and maintain the power system. The blockade, along with the aging infrastructure, has left the island vulnerable to widespread outages. No timeline for restoring full service was immediately provided.

According to Mehr News, the blackout is the latest in a series of grid failures that have plagued Cuba since late 2024, with no immediate resolution in sight.