Cuba has been plunged into darkness after the country’s national electric grid collapsed, leaving millions of residents without power across the island. The blackout, which occurred on March 16, affected nearly the entire population of about 10–11 million people, according to officials from the state-run power operator Unión Eléctrica (UNE).

Authorities said the nationwide outage followed a sudden disconnection in the country’s electricity system, though the exact cause is still under investigation. Initial reports suggest the problem may have been linked to a failure in the transmission system rather than a direct breakdown at a power plant.

The collapse comes amid a deepening energy crisis in the Caribbean nation, which has been struggling with aging power infrastructure, fuel shortages and limited foreign support. Officials say the island has not received significant oil shipments for several months, severely reducing electricity generation and placing additional pressure on the already fragile grid.

In Havana and other major cities, streets and homes were left without electricity as authorities scrambled to restart thermoelectric plants and restore limited power through smaller local systems. Hospitals and essential services were prioritized as engineers worked to gradually reconnect parts of the grid.

The blackout marks the third major power outage in Cuba in the past four months, highlighting the ongoing deterioration of the country’s electricity system. Frequent outages and fuel shortages have increasingly disrupted daily life, affecting businesses, transportation and communications across the island.

Government officials say efforts are underway to stabilize the grid and restore electricity nationwide, but warned that full recovery could take time as the country continues to grapple with its worsening energy and economic crisis.