Cuba plunged into third nationwide blackout in nine days as energy crisis deepens

Cuba has suffered its third nationwide power grid collapse in just nine days, leaving millions of people without electricity and deepening the country's ongoing energy crisis.

Officials said the latest blackout was triggered by a failure in the national electricity system, with authorities working to restore power through smaller, localised grids before reconnecting the entire network.

The repeated outages have disrupted daily life across the island, affecting hospitals, public transport, water supply, internet services, and businesses. Residents in several cities have reported long hours without electricity, while growing frustration has led to small protests in some areas.

The crisis has been linked to Cuba's ageing power infrastructure and severe fuel shortages, which have worsened following a US-imposed oil blockade that significantly reduced fuel supplies to the country.

Cuba generates only a portion of the fuel it needs domestically, making it heavily dependent on imports. As authorities continue efforts to stabilise the power grid, experts warn that recurring blackouts could persist unless fuel supplies improve and ageing energy infrastructure is upgraded.

The prolonged electricity crisis has also raised concerns over its impact on the country's economy and humanitarian situation.