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Cuba experienced a widespread power outage on Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Havana reported, attributing the blackout to a collapse of the country’s electrical grid. Cuban state media indicated that the cause of the failure is still under investigation, and there is no estimated timeline for restoring electricity.
The embassy cautioned U.S. citizens currently in Cuba or planning to travel there to remain vigilant and make necessary preparations, as reports have emerged of disruptions to cellphone and internet services. The embassy emphasized that Cuba’s electrical grid has become increasingly unstable, leading to multiple nationwide blackouts in recent months.
“The electrical system remains vulnerable, with frequent and prolonged power outages,” the embassy stated. “Scheduled power cuts occur daily, and unscheduled outages continue across the island.”
Cuba’s Ministry of Energy also acknowledged the outage on social media. The country’s energy infrastructure has been under severe strain due to fuel shortages, the ongoing U.S. oil embargo, and deteriorating infrastructure.
Even outside of full national blackouts, Cuba regularly experiences rolling power cuts affecting millions of residents. The blackout on Friday marks the seventh nationwide outage this year, following the most recent one just last month.
Scenes from Havana during the outage showed residents navigating darkened streets and buildings, highlighting the growing challenges faced by the island’s power system amid broader economic difficulties.