Cuba plunged into darkness Friday night as a massive power outage struck Havana and provinces across the island, affecting millions. The blackout began around 8:15 p.m. local time when a failure at the Diezmero substation near Havana triggered “a significant loss of generation in western Cuba,” collapsing the National Electric System, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mines. The ministry announced on X that recovery efforts are underway.

Havana’s streets fell silent and dark, with only hotels equipped with generators showing signs of life. Internet connectivity faltered, and reports of outages poured in from provinces like Guantanamo, Artemisa, Santiago de Cuba, and Santa Clara, where residents saw mere flickers of light. Earlier, the Electric Union forecasted a peak-hour demand of 3,250 megawatts against a 1,380-megawatt deficit—leaving 42% of the grid offline, though not the worst shortfall recently recorded.

The island’s power grid, strained by aging infrastructure and fuel shortages, has long struggled, with over half the country facing cuts during peak times. Electricity powers essentials like cooking and water pumps, making outages deeply disruptive. Cuba endured three major grid failures late last year, compounding its economic woes.

In response, authorities are pushing solar energy, aiming to activate dozens of photovoltaic parks this year. Past blackouts sparked anti-government protests in 2021, 2022, and 2024, reflecting growing frustration.