'Total Disconnection': Cuba Faces Second Nationwide Blackout As US Blockade Worsens Crisis

Last Updated:July 11, 2026, 03:12 IST

The blackout was the ninth nationwide power failure in Cuba since late 2024 and the fourth so far this year.

Cuba suffered its second nationwide blackout in five days on Friday, as a worsening energy crisis and fuel shortages put further pressure on the country’s already fragile power system, worsened by a six-month US fuel blockade.

The state-run electricity company UNE said on X that a “total collapse of the national electric system" occurred at 4:30 pm local time (2030 GMT). The company did not immediately explain the reason behind the outage.

The blackout was the ninth nationwide power failure in Cuba since late 2024 and the fourth so far this year.

Energy crisis deepens

Cuba has been facing severe power shortages for years due to ageing infrastructure and a lack of fuel. The situation has worsened since January after US President Donald Trump imposed a fuel blockade as part of a wider pressure campaign against the Cuban government.

Cuban authorities say the restrictions have made it harder for the country to secure fuel supplies needed to run its Soviet-era power plants.

Since then, only one oil tanker from Russia has reportedly arrived in Cuba, adding to pressure on the island’s electricity network. Authorities said a previous blackout was caused by low power generation and instability in the grid.

It took nearly two days to restore electricity across Cuba after the earlier outage, with many homes continuing to face power cuts as authorities tried to save fuel.

Power cuts add to Cuba’s wider crisis

Frequent blackouts have become a regular part of life in Cuba, but the crisis has become more severe in recent months.

The country is also dealing with shortages of food, medicine and drinking water, while public services have been affected by the economic crisis.

The Cuban government has blamed US policies for worsening the situation, while Washington has continued its pressure campaign against Havana.

Cuba has rejected any political changes demanded by the US and said its political system is not open for discussion. However, the government has recently introduced some economic reforms amid growing challenges.

(With inputs from agencies)

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