Cuba Power Outage: Massive Blackout Leaves Millions Without Electricity as Repairs Continue

Power Slowly Being Restored After Massive Blackout in Western Cuba

Swathes of Cuba remained without electricity on Thursday, nearly a day after a massive blackout struck the western portion of the island, the latest outage blamed on a frail electric grid and a lack of fuel. Crews labored overnight to fix a broken boiler at one of Cuba's main thermoelectric plants, but officials warn that full power restoration might take three to four days. Cuba

According to state media, approximately 660,000 clients in Havana, or 77%, had power, along with 43 hospitals and ten water supply facilities. However, officials warned of poor power generation and reported that several circuits that had been reconnected had been turned off again. Millions were still without power. Cuba's Ministry of Energy and Mines stated on X that the electrical system is running "in a limited capacity, prioritizing basic services, primarily health and water supply." days.

Officials stated Wednesday afternoon that crews had found the crack in the boiler drum that caused the outage. They claimed it would take 12 hours to cool off that region so personnel could enter the furnace and begin repairing it. Work is already beginning to repair a damaged pipe. According to state media, two power plants are currently down due to a scarcity of petroleum. The blackout shows the continued issues facing the island's electricity network as repair crews seek to restore normal power supply. supply."

Daily Life Disrupted as Millions Cope Without Electricity supply. Electricity

Millions were still without electricity, including Miguel Leyva, 65, who lives with his mother and brother, both of whom are sick. "I have no words to convey what I'm going through: the heat, the mosquitos, and the lack of electricity. The food could spoil," he explained. "I'm aware of all the problems that exist, but listen, it's been more than 24 hours now."

Sonia Vázquez, 61, claimed the blackout did not prevent her from selling coffee to pedestrians every day, which she prepared with gas at 5 a.m. under a rechargeable bulb. "Last night, I didn't sleep. "There are too many mosquitoes," stated Vázquez.

Meanwhile, 57-year-old cafe owner José Ignacio Dorta reported that some of his frozen food had spoiled. "We looked for measures to reduce additional spoilage. We're working on it. "We hope nothing else spoils," he said.

The extended outage has hampered daily life in the city and adjacent areas. Without electricity, households face excessive heat, food spoilage, and insect infestations. Small enterprises and street vendors may face financial losses if refrigeration fails and operational conditions deteriorate.

Energy Crisis Deepens Amid Aging Grid and Fuel Shortages

Cuba has long battled with an old electrical grid and inconsistent fuel supply, but the situation has worsened in recent months. Some of Cuba's thermoelectric facilities have been operational for almost three decades and receive little maintenance due to hefty expenses. Officials claim US sanctions have also hindered the government from purchasing new equipment and specialized parts required for repairs.

The fuel issue has also gotten worse. The United States invaded Venezuela in early January, halting key oil shipments. The lack of petroleum has prompted some power facilities to shut down completely, severely limiting electrical generation on the island.

Wednesday's outage is the second to strike western Cuba in three months. The outage in early December lasted over 12 hours and demonstrates the growing frequency of large-scale disruptions. The recurring blackouts reveal systemic flaws in the nation's power system, where outdated equipment, inadequate maintenance, and fuel scarcity combine to cause severe electrical shortages that affect millions of people.

U.S.–Cuba Political Tensions and Trump’s Comments on Possible Deal

Later that month, US President Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on any country that sold or supplied oil to Cuba. On Thursday, Trump intimated that a deal with Cuba is near, but that he is focusing on Iran in the meantime.

Referring to Inter Miami's co-owner, who is originally from Cuba, Trump remarked, "You're going to go back," and added, "That's going to be a great day, right?" Without revealing specifics, Trump stated, "We're going to celebrate that separately. "I only want to wait a couple of weeks. I want him to wait a few weeks. But we'll probably get together again soon to celebrate what's going on in Cuba."

He continued about the island's authorities, "They want to make a deal so desperately. You have no idea." The president then spoke to Marco Rubio, saying that the secretary of state wants to work on Cuba but is hesitant to do so while Iran is at war. "Your next one's going to be—we want to do that special—Cuba," stated Donald Trump. "He is waiting. But he says, 'Let's finish this one first. 'We could complete them all at the same time. Unfortunately, horrible things happen. If you watch countries over time, you will notice that they all move too quickly, and horrible things happen."

Trump did not elaborate on his remarks, but they echoed those made last week, when he mentioned the possibility of a "friendly takeover" of Cuba without providing any details.