Cuba hit with another blackout as millions across island are left without electricity

HAVANA -- Cuba’s power grid collapsed on Friday, leaving millions of people across the island without electricity.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the blackout on its official X account without giving a cause and added that officials had begun “activating service-restoration protocols.”

Power grid collapses have become increasingly common over the past two years because of the severe economic crisis gripping the island. They have worsened since January, after the United States imposed an energy blockade aimed at forcing a change in Cuba’s political system.

The restrictions prevent Cuba from importing the fuel needed to operate its thermoelectric power plants, as well as replacement parts required to maintain infrastructure that in many cases has become obsolete.

The two most recent nationwide blackouts occurred in early August, following others in July and March, as well as several regional outages.

Even when the national power grid is working, Cubans endureoutages lasting more than 30 consecutive hours.