Blackouts
Cuba launches recovery after second nationwide blackout in a week
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Cuba has begun restoring power following a nationwide grid collapse on Saturday evening—the second total blackout in less than a week and third major outage this month—affecting around 10 million people after a major power plant in Nuevitas failed. Officials established microgrids for essential services amid chronic fuel shortages and grid unreliability.
In a personal diary entry, Lien Estrada recounts her efforts to recharge devices at spots with generators amid Cuba's prolonged blackouts. She visited the doctors' apartment building, the 'Twelve-Story Building,' and Vladimir Ilich Lenin Hospital. She eventually found a working outlet in Medical Sciences classrooms.
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Cuba's state-owned Unión Eléctrica (UNE) forecasts that 62% of the island will lose power simultaneously this Monday at peak demand. The energy crisis has deepened since mid-2024, worsening with the US oil blockade imposed in January. Nine of the country's 16 thermoelectric units are currently out of service.
On the night of December 8 and early morning of December 9, 2025, Cubans in various regions took to the streets to protest power outages exceeding 12 hours in some areas. Residents banged pots, lit bonfires, and chanted demands for electricity, food, and freedom. These demonstrations underscore the deepening energy crisis gripping the island.
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The 46th Havana Film Festival proceeds with lights and screenings in El Vedado, contrasting sharply with widespread blackouts across the city. Attendees describe a surreal divide between the festival's glow and the darkness of everyday life. Official narratives highlight cultural resilience, while critics point to underlying crises.