Prolonged electricity blackouts have left large portions of Havana in darkness, forcing residents to scavenge for food and recyclable materials [1, 2].
The energy failures highlight a deepening economic crisis in Cuba, where the collapse of the national electric system threatens public health and urban stability.
In Havana, particularly within Old Havana, the lack of power has emptied the streets at night [2]. Residents have been seen searching through waste for resources to survive as the city loses its usual vibrancy [2]. These conditions coincide with a critical operational crisis in the health sector, according to Cuban health authorities [4].
The Cuban government recently worked to restore the National Electric System (SEN) after a general blackout that lasted almost 40 hours [1]. Despite these restoration efforts, the grid remains unstable. Reports on the extent of the outages vary, with some data indicating 55% of the country would suffer blackouts on a given Sunday [1], while other reports suggest up to 64% of the island could be without power [3].
A government spokesperson said the blackouts are the fault of the United States and its oil blockade [5]. The Cuban administration said U.S. sanctions prevent the acquisition of necessary fuel and parts to maintain the power grid [5].
In response to the crisis, the United States has offered $100 million in aid to Cuba [5]. However, the strain on the national electric system continues to cause frequent and extensive power cuts across the island [5, 4].
Authorities said the health sector is currently experiencing a critical operational crisis [4]. This instability is particularly acute in maternal and infant health services, which rely on consistent electricity for life-saving equipment [4].
“The blackouts in the island are the fault of the United States and its oil blockade.”
The recurring collapse of Cuba's energy grid reflects a systemic failure to modernize infrastructure amid severe economic constraints. While the government attributes the crisis to external pressure from U.S. sanctions, the resulting instability in basic services—specifically healthcare and food security—increases the risk of social unrest in the capital.
