Cuba, Mar 22 (V7N) – Cuba has been plunged into darkness once again, marking the second nationwide blackout in less than a week as the island’s fragile power grid collapsed under mounting pressure from aging infrastructure and a worsening fuel crisis.

As night fell over the capital Havana, vast areas were left without electricity, forcing residents to navigate pitch-black streets using mobile phone lights and flashlights. The latest outage comes just days after a previous nationwide blackout, deepening frustration among ordinary Cubans already struggling with daily hardships. 

In parts of the city’s tourist districts, a few restaurants managed to stay open using generators, with live music continuing despite the crisis. But for most citizens, the repeated outages have made daily life increasingly unbearable.

“This is becoming unbearable,” said 64-year-old resident Ofelia Oliva, expressing growing exhaustion after yet another disruption. Others echoed similar frustration, questioning how long such conditions can continue.

Authorities confirmed that the blackout was triggered by a failure at a major thermoelectric plant, which caused a cascading collapse of the national grid. Emergency measures, including the activation of localized micro-grids, have been deployed to restore electricity to critical facilities such as hospitals and water treatment plants. 

Cuba’s energy system relies heavily on a network of outdated thermoelectric plants, many operating for over four decades. Frequent breakdowns, combined with severe fuel shortages, have led to prolonged outages—lasting up to 15 hours in Havana and even longer in rural regions.

The crisis has intensified sharply in recent months following disruptions in oil supply. Cuba has struggled to secure fuel imports amid tightening international pressure and restrictions, leaving its power sector severely weakened. 

The ongoing electricity shortages are compounding broader economic difficulties, including food and medicine shortages, reduced transportation, and declining tourism. Public frustration has also begun to surface, with isolated protests reported in recent days.

Despite the hardships, many Cubans continue to push forward. Small shop owners operate under dim phone lights, while fishermen cast their lines into dark coastal waters—adapting to a crisis that shows no immediate signs of relief.

Cuba now faces a deepening energy emergency, with uncertainty looming over fuel supplies, infrastructure stability, and the daily lives of millions across the island.

END/WD/RH