Cuba is currently grappling with a massive blackout that has left its entire population of approximately 10 million without electricity. The blackout was triggered by the failure of the country’s principal energy plant, leading to a total collapse of the power grid around 11:00 AM local time (15:00 GMT) on Friday, as reported by the Cuban Ministry of Energy on social media.
Officials from the grid management have stated that the timeline for restoring power remains uncertain. This incident comes at a time when Cuba has already been enduring prolonged power outages for several months, exacerbating an already dire situation.
In response to the ongoing energy crisis, Cuba’s Prime Minister declared an “energy emergency” just the day before, highlighting the severity and urgency of the nation’s power supply issues. The government and utility companies are currently working around the clock to assess the damage and initiate repairs, though the full impact of this latest failure on the island’s economy and daily life is yet to be fully realized.