On Friday, Cuba experienced another widespread power outage that left millions without electricity, marking the sixth such incident since January. A transmission line failure in western Cuba triggered a grid collapse affecting Matanzas province and leading to disconnection of eastern regions. By evening, only 5% of Havana's customers had power restored; Cuban authorities are setting up small “micro-islands” for local power distribution to mitigate the crisis exacerbated by U.S. sanctions limiting fuel and spare parts imports necessary for thermoelectric plants and infrastructure maintenance.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Friday, Cuba's power grid collapsed, leaving millions of people across the island without electricity. This was at least the sixth major blackout since January, following previous outages in March, July, and August 2023. The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the outage on its official X account but did not provide a cause beyond initiating service-restoration protocols.
The frequent power failures are linked to the severe economic crisis exacerbated by the U.S.'s energy blockade, which restricts Cuba’s access to necessary fuel and replacement parts for its aging infrastructure. Even when electricity is available, rolling blackouts still occur daily, with some areas going without power for over 30 consecutive hours.
In Havana, only about 5% of users had power restored by late evening, primarily around hospitals and water pumping stations. Residents are struggling to cope with the ongoing shortages in food, water, and electricity, highlighting the dire situation on the island.
Written for “Cuba Power Grid Collapse Blackouts” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.
Cuba's power grid collapsed once again on Friday, leaving millions of people across the island without electricity for at least the sixth time since President Trump
in January.
asserted
grid → collapse → January
The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the islandwide power outage on its official X account and added that officials had begun "activating service-restoration protocols.
asserted
officials → announce → protocols
"No one can stand these constant blackouts.
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one → stand → blackouts
There isn't enough food, there's no water, there's no electricity — you have no idea," Mercedes Rodriguez, a 60-year-old worker in Havana, told The Associated Press as she waited for public transportation to return home.
asserted
transportation → be → Press
"The country is in such a sad state, and there are no words for what we're going through."
asserted
we → be → what
According to Cuban authorities, a failure reportedly occurred in transmission lines in the western part of the country, causing the system to collapse in that area — as far as Matanzas province — and the eastern section of the island was subsequently disconnected.
uncertain
section → accord → island
The official newspaper Granma reported "unstable" weather conditions further aggravated the grid's situation.
asserted
conditions → report → situation
By dusk, power had been restored to 5% of users in Havana, which has a total of about 862,000 customers, according to official data.
uncertain
which → restore → data
Small power-distribution "micro-islands" were being established in the provinces of Camagüey, Pinar del Río and Granma.
asserted
islands → establish → Camagüey
Some systems serving hospitals and other emergency facilities were being reactivated.
asserted
systems → serve → hospitals
Abilén Marrero, a homemaker, sat resignedly at the entrance to her building in central Havana on Friday.
asserted
Marrero → sit → Friday
"Maybe it'll come back this afternoon or tomorrow—there's no way to know.
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it → come → ?
We just have to wait," she said.
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she → have → ?
Power grid collapses have become increasingly common over the past two years because of the
gripping the island.
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collapses → become → island
They have worsened since January, after the United States imposed an energy blockade aimed at in Cuba's .
asserted
States → worsen → Cuba
Mr. Trump that would impose tariffs on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba
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that → impose → Cuba
The restrictions prevent Cuba from importing the fuel needed to operate its thermoelectric power plants, as well as replacement parts required to maintain infrastructure that in many cases has become obsolete.
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that → prevent → cases
Just one tanker of fuel has been delivered since, by a
in March.
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tanker → deliver → March
The two most recent nationwide blackouts occurred in early August, following others in July and March, as well as several regional outages.
asserted
blackouts → occur → July
Even when the national power grid is working, Cubans regularly endure outages lasting more than 30 consecutive hours.
asserted
Cubans → work → hours
Ernesto Soberón Guzman, the Cuban ambassador to the United Nations, called the outages a "collective punishment" in a conversation with CBS News last month.
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Guzman → call → News
The blackouts have had a significant impact on the population and, combined with the energy embargo, have led to transportation limitations, reduced work hours and
, in addition to serious public health consequences.
asserted
blackouts → have → consequences
The power outages also affect basic activities such as cooking, water supply and internet and telephone service.
asserted
outages → affect → cooking
The Trump administration has also quietly examined a range of
against the island, CBS News previously reported.
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News → examine → island
Officials stressed that military briefings, which discussed options including an Army-led air assault, were not an indication that President Trump or the Pentagon have decided to carry out an operation.
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Trump → stress → operation
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emphasized the U.S. prefers a diplomatic option for a transition to a new government led by technocrats and willing to make economic reforms, but that process has stalled despite the pressure from the Trump administration.
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process → emphasize → administration
Mr. Trump has previously highlighted the U.S. overthrow and arrest of former Venezuelan president
and the installation of a friendly successor as a for what he would like to achieve in Cuba.
asserted
he → highlight → Cuba
The Aporia
