Cuba suffers third nationwide blackoutthird nationwide blackout in six months amid fuel blockade
Cuba's national electric grid collapsed on Monday at midday, leaving approximately 10 million people without power across the Caribbean island. The blackout marks the third nationwide outage in six months, driven by dwindling fuel reserves and an energy crisis precipitated by the US fuel blockade imposed earlier this year.
This event deepens the island's ongoing energy crisis and highlights the severe humanitarian impact of the sanctions.
Cuban Government
Cuban officials describe the US oil blockade imposed by President Trump in January as a direct cause of the island's energy collapse, labeling the sanctions as an act of 'genocide' that has worsened infant mortality rates.
Associated Press
Western media outlets report that Cuba's national grid collapsed due to dwindling fuel reserves and a crumbling electric infrastructure, while noting the US fuel blockade has depleted supply for power plants.
- Cuba's infant mortality rate increased by 148 percent between 2018 and 2025 due to economic sanctions.
- Over 1,800 Cuban babies died between 2018 and 2025, marking the worst birth survival rate in 30 years.
- The 2026 blackout is the third nationwide power failure in Cuba since the start of the year.
US-Cuba Fuel Blockade Crisis
Cuba is experiencing its third nationwide blackout in six months as a U.S.-imposed fuel blockade has severely restricted oil imports, leaving the island’s aging power grid without fuel to operate power plants.
29 January
President Trump issues an executive order threatening tariffs against any country supplying oil to Cuba, establishing a proxy fuel blockade.1 January
U.S. forces oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, cutting off Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba.
