A nationwide power grid failure has plunged Cuba into darkness, with high-rise buildings in Havana rendered uninhabitable and essential services paralysed. The blackout, which began at 11:00 local time on Friday, is the worst to affect the island in nearly three decades, according to state media. Preliminary reports indicate that a fault at the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the country’s largest, triggered a cascading collapse of the grid.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed that aid teams are on standby, amid fears of a humanitarian crisis. Hospitals are running on backup generators, but fuel shortages are limiting their duration. The Cuban government has appealed for international assistance, while the US and European Union have offered technical support.
The blackout is expected to last at least 48 hours, raising concerns about food spoilage, water contamination, and public order. For now, the streets of Havana are eerily quiet, save for the occasional hum of a generator. This is a developing story.
