Cuba Plunges Into Nationwide Blackout after Total Power Grid Collapse

Cuba plunged into complete darkness on Wednesday following the collapse of its national electricity grid, leaving the entire island without power, according to the country’s state-run electricity company.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the outage in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “The electric grid has suffered a total blackout, possibly due to an unexpected failure on a main transmission line.”

Authorities say investigations are underway, and initial repair operations have already begun. The incident was first reported by NBC News, citing officials familiar with the situation.

In the capital, Havana, residents expressed growing concern over the blackout, voicing fears about how long the outage could last and how it might further exacerbate the country’s already dire economic conditions. Many are struggling with chronic shortages of food, medicine, and basic supplies.

Power outages have long plagued Cuba, but the frequency and severity have worsened dramatically in recent years amid a deepening economic crisis. In some parts of the island, blackouts of up to 20 hours per day have become a grim norm.

This is not the first time Cuba’s power grid has collapsed. In 2022, Hurricane Ian triggered a complete system failure that left the island in darkness for days. A similar nationwide blackout occurred in October 2024, with full restoration taking several days due to widespread infrastructure failure.

Experts have repeatedly warned of mounting stress on Cuba’s aging energy infrastructure, citing a lack of investment, poor maintenance, and a growing imbalance between supply and demand. The country’s power plants, many decades old, require constant upkeep and spare parts that are often difficult to obtain.

Government officials have frequently pointed to fuel shortages and the long-standing U.S. embargo as contributing factors. The embargo, in place since the early 1960s, restricts access to parts and equipment needed to maintain Cuba’s power plants and distribution networks.

As of late Wednesday evening, electricity had not yet been restored to any region of the country. Authorities have not given a timeline for when the power will return.

For millions of Cubans already navigating extreme economic hardship, this latest blackout adds yet another layer of uncertainty, and a reminder of the fragility of the nation’s essential infrastructure.