Cuba suffers nationwide blackout as power grid collapses

Cuba's state-owned electricity utility announced on Sunday that the national energy grid had collapsed, plunging the Caribbean island into darkness for the fourth time since July as chronic energy shortages continue to disrupt daily life.

Grid failure plunges island into darkness

The state-run electricity provider confirmed the grid failure on Sunday without offering specific details regarding the cause of the collapse, according to CNN. The outage represents the first nationwide blackout recorded in August and follows three similar incidents that struck the island in July. Rolling power cuts have become increasingly frequent, forcing residents to rush through essential tasks such as cooking, washing, and accessing the internet whenever electricity returns.

Economic measures to ease energy crisis

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz announced in July that authorities had approved the country's first foreign investment initiative to import and sell fuel, with nearly 200 businesses subsequently authorized for wholesale distribution. Lawmakers have also cleared the way for private investment in tourism as part of broader efforts to stimulate economic activity and address infrastructure deficits.

Marrero acknowledged that the reforms will take time to yield visible improvements. "The results will be achieved gradually," he said. "Starting now, the most important, and perhaps the most difficult, stage begins." The measures were introduced following three nationwide blackouts last month, with officials conceding that the changes are incremental and will require sustained implementation.