Cuba began gradually restoring electricity on Monday after a nationwide collapse of its power grid left much of the island without electricity, deepening an already severe energy crisis.
State grid operator UNE said power had been restored to critical facilities, including hospitals and food production centres, but only about 1% of electricity demand in Havana had been met by late afternoon.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the grid failure, which marked the eighth nationwide blackout since October 2025 and the third this year.
The outage comes as Cuba continues to struggle with prolonged electricity cuts caused by an ageing power grid, chronic fuel shortages and reduced oil supplies.
The crisis has worsened after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump tightened sanctions that disrupted fuel shipments from Venezuela and pressured Mexico to halt oil exports to the island.
The blackout compounded hardships for millions of Cubans already enduring frequent power outages that disrupt work, communication and daily life during the Caribbean summer.
With nearly two-thirds of the country already without electricity before the grid collapsed, many residents saw little difference as communications remained limited.
State television urged those with electricity to inform neighbours about the nationwide outage, highlighting the scale of the communications disruption.
Residents in Havana expressed growing frustration, citing unbearable heat, mosquitoes and the uncertainty over when reliable electricity would return.
The latest collapse underscores Cuba’s deepening energy challenges, with repeated blackouts continuing to strain the economy and daily life across the island.