Cuba’s Entire Power Grid Collapses, U.S. Embassy Warns of Nationwide Blackout

Cuba’s national electrical grid collapsed entirely on Friday, according to a security alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Havana, plunging the island into a total power failure with no confirmed timeline for restoration.

The Embassy said that as of 1:57 p.m. EST, “Cuba experienced a total power failure due to a collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid.” Cuban state media reported that the cause of the collapse was “under investigation.”

The Embassy did not provide an estimated timeline for when power would be restored and advised Americans on the island to plan accordingly. Reports also emerged of cellphone and internet outages accompanying the blackout.

The collapse is the latest in a string of nationwide power failures Cuba has experienced in recent months. According to the Embassy’s alert, Cuba’s electrical system “remains vulnerable,” with scheduled power cuts occurring daily and unscheduled outages persisting across the country with increasing frequency and duration.

The Embassy urged residents to monitor updates from Cuba’s state electric utility, Unión Eléctrica (UNE), and to follow local media for further information. It recommended that people:

• Keep mobile phones and portable battery banks charged
• Have flashlights and spare batteries readily accessible
• Stock up on nonperishable food and water
• Prepare alternative methods for medical needs, including power-dependent devices and medicine refrigeration

Cuba’s grid has been under mounting strain, a situation compounded by reduced fuel shipments from Venezuela, a longtime ally that has historically helped prop up the island’s energy supply.