Cuba's national electric grid suffered a total collapse on Monday, leaving nearly 10 million people without electricity in the latest and most severe blow to the island's deepening energy crisis.

State-run grid operator UNE (Unión Eléctrica) said the nationwide blackout occurred around midday and that technicians were investigating the cause of the system failure. The Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed the collapse and said emergency efforts were underway to gradually restore electricity through isolated "micro-grid" systems that prioritize critical infrastructure such as hospitals, water facilities, and emergency services.

The outage comes after months of worsening electricity shortages, with Cubans enduring rolling blackouts lasting several hours—and in some regions, several days—as the country's aging power infrastructure struggles to meet demand.

By the time the national grid failed, nearly two-thirds of the island was already experiencing power outages due to a severe shortfall in electricity generation, highlighting the fragile state of Cuba's energy network.

The crisis has been driven by a combination of deteriorating thermoelectric plants, chronic maintenance problems, and acute fuel shortages. Cuban authorities have repeatedly blamed U.S. sanctions and restrictions on fuel imports for exacerbating the situation, while analysts also point to decades of underinvestment in the country's electricity infrastructure.

The latest blackout is the latest in a series of nationwide grid failures this year. Cuba experienced multiple island-wide outages in March and another major disruption in May, underscoring the growing instability of its electrical system despite repeated government efforts to stabilize power generation.

The nationwide loss of electricity has further disrupted transportation, telecommunications, businesses, and public services, while residents face soaring summer temperatures without air conditioning or refrigeration. Many households have already been coping with prolonged power cuts that have affected food preservation, healthcare services, and economic activity.

Officials have not provided a timeline for the full restoration of electricity, saying engineers are continuing to assess the cause of the collapse while working to reconnect generating units and expand service incrementally across the island. (ILKHA)