Cuba Endures Nationwide Blackout After Power Grid Collapse FAST-MOVING
On the night of Sunday, 3 August 2026, Cuba’s state‑run electric utility Unión Eléctrica (UNE) announced a total disconnection of the national electricity system at 22:43 local time, plunging the island of roughly 10 million people, including Havana, into darkness. The blackout follows a series of recent nationwide outages in July and early August, each caused by aging thermoelectric plants, damaged transformers and chronic fuel shortages.
Cuban authorities activated emergency protocols to keep hospitals, water‑distribution networks and other essential services supplied while crews work to restore power. The government blames the United States, citing a Trump‑era oil embargo and expanded sanctions that have limited diesel and crude imports, leaving the grid unable to meet demand. No definitive technical cause was given by UNE, which said restoration procedures are underway.
The crisis deepens a five‑year economic downturn, with repeated blackouts disrupting daily life, water supply, cooling, transport and communications across the country.
Entities: Cuba · Donald Trump · Havana · Miguel Díaz‑Canel · United States · Unión Eléctrica (UNE) · Unión Eléctrica de Cuba
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 20 SOURCES] A full nationwide power outage occurred in Cuba on the night of Sunday into Monday at 22:43 local time. (existing)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Prior to this outage, Cuba experienced three nationwide power cuts in July and a partial outage in five provinces on Saturday night, which was restored before the new blackout. (full)
- [● 20 SOURCES] Cuba has been in a severe economic crisis for five years, leading to frequent power cuts. (existing)
- [● 19 SOURCES] The shortage of diesel fuel has been exacerbated by a U.S. oil embargo imposed in January 2024 by President Donald Trump. (existing)
- [● 20 SOURCES] The outage left the entire island, including Havana, in darkness. (existing)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Havana authorized its first foreign‑backed fuel‑import venture, allowing nearly 200 Cuban companies to participate in wholesale fuel distribution. (full)
- [● 11 SOURCES] Cuban authorities activated emergency protocols to prioritize electricity for hospitals, water distribution and other essential services. (existing)
- [● 19 SOURCES] State utility UNE reported a total disconnection of the national electricity system. (existing)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The United States authorized only one Russian tanker delivering 100,000 tons of crude, which has now been exhausted. (new)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The blackout followed a series of recent nationwide outages in July and early August. (new)