Officials in Cuba reported an island-wide blackout Monday in the country of some 11 million people as its energy and economic crises deepen and its power grid continues to crumble.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines on X noted a “complete disconnection” of the country’s electrical system and said it was investigating, noting there were no failures in the units that were operating when the grid collapsed.
Lazaro Guerra, the ministry’s electricity director, told state media late Monday that crews were trying to restart several thermoelectric plants, which are key to restoring power.
“It must be done gradually to avoid setbacks,” he said. “Because systems, when very weak, are more susceptible to failure.”
As night fell, candles began to burn in some homes while the sounds of children playing and singing with their mother filled one dark house in Havana.
“We have to prepare a mattress for the girls here so that they can sleep here because we have no choice,” said Yuneici Cecilia Riviaux, as she motioned to an open door. “I don’t have a rechargeable fan or a generator.”
It was the third major blackout in Cuba over the past four months.
