Cuba: Cuba was plunged into darkness on 16 March as a nationwide power outage affected all 11 million residents. The blackout followed months without any oil shipments arriving on the island, worsening the country’s ongoing energy crisis.
Residents of Havana reported empty highways and limited access to food, with many relying on bicycles, cellphones, and lamps to manage daily life.
The Cuban Energy and Mines Ministry confirmed a “complete disconnection” of the national grid and said crews were investigating the cause. By 17 March, around 31 % of Havana’s electricity had been restored, while teams worked to restart thermoelectric plants critical to full power recovery.
Cuban officials reported the country is operating on just 40 % of its required fuel, with no new deliveries in the last three months. Hospitals and other essential services are operating with severely limited power, and many Cubans are accustomed to electricity lasting only two to five hours daily.
Fortunately, cloud cover on 16 March provided some relief from the heat, which reached 29 °C (84 degrees). Locals are being urged to conserve fuel, water, food, and mobile phone battery.
The outage highlights Cuba’s fragile electricity infrastructure and the urgent need for improvements to support basic services and daily life.
Source: NBC News
