Cuba plunges into darkness as third Nationwide blackout strikes amid US oil blockade

Cuba suffered its third nationwide power outage since the start of the year on Monday, as the state electricity company reported a "total disconnection" of the national grid, leaving the island's 9.6 million people without electricity .

Cuba suffered its third nationwide power outage since the start of the year on Monday, leaving millions of people without electricity. The state electricity company said the national grid had completely shut down and that it was investigating the cause.

The blackout is the eighth on the island since late 2024. It comes as Cuba struggles with a serious energy crisis made worse by a US oil blockade that has cut off fuel supplies. Since January, the United States has allowed only one oil tanker, from Russia, to dock in Cuba.

The island’s power system relies mostly on old Soviet-era plants that are in poor condition. With very little fuel coming in, the government has been forced to cut electricity for long hours. In some parts of Havana, people face blackouts that last more than 24 hours. In rural areas, power can be out for over 70 hours at a time.

The lack of fuel has made daily life very hard for Cubans. Food, drinking water, and medicine are becoming harder to find. The United Nations has warned that the country is facing a humanitarian emergency.

The Cuban government has tried to invest in solar energy to reduce the shortages, but solar power still provides only about 10 percent of the country’s energy needs.

This is not the first time Cuba has faced such a crisis. In March, a similar power outage affected most of the country, including the capital Havana. The government said it was working to fix the problem, but the situation remains difficult.

The US blockade and sanctions have made it harder for Cuba to buy fuel and other essential goods. Many foreign companies have also stopped doing business with the island because of the sanctions.

As the government continues to investigate the latest blackout, the people of Cuba face an uncertain future. Without enough fuel and electricity, basic services like healthcare and clean water are also under threat. For now, Cubans must continue to endure long hours without power, hoping for a solution that still seems far away.