Total blackout in Cuba: island in darkness as fleet of medicines and solar panels depart from Europe

©Nhan Hoang via Unsplash

Cuba has been plunged into darkness. A total blackout has affected the entire Caribbean island, leaving millions without electricity. This was announced by the state-owned Unión Nacional Eléctrica de Cuba, which speaks of a "complete disconnection of the national electricity system". The interruption occurred simultaneously across the country, as if someone had literally flipped a switch. The notification came through via the Havana Electricity Company's Telegram channel: recovery protocols have been initiated, but the causes of the grid collapse are still unclear.

This is the first total power outage of 2026. An incident that comes at an extremely vulnerable time for the country, marked by a deep energy crisis. However, this is not the first time the Cuban power grid has collapsed. Last March 4, a failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant in Matanzas province already caused the collapse of the electricity system in about two-thirds of the island.

Energy crisis exacerbated by embargo

The blackouts follow months of major energy instability. According to the Cuban government, the country is facing a severe shortage of fuel and oil.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel explained that Cuba has not received oil deliveries for more than three months, forcing the national energy system to run on a fragile mix of solar, natural gas and often obsolete thermal power plants.

Havana attributes much of the economic and energy problems to the U.S. embargo, which has continued to tighten in recent years and severely limits the island's access to fuels, technology and infrastructure.

Fleet with humanitarian aid for the island

Just as the country faces another energy emergency, a humanitarian mission to Cuba is about to depart from Europe. On board is a cargo of medicines and essential medical supplies, including oncology treatments, destined for the Cuban healthcare system.

The mission is part of the European Convoy for Cuba, a solidarity initiative organized by Aicec (Agency for Cultural and Economic Exchange with Cuba) as part of the "Let Cuba Breathe" campaign.

The European convoy joins the broader Nuestra América Convoy, an international mobilization bringing together social movements, humanitarian organizations and activists from different countries.

The initiative is coordinated by the Progressive International network and is inspired by similar experiences of international solidarity, such as the Global Sumud Flotilla, which in recent years has challenged the blockade around Gaza.

In total, the convoy will deliver the following:

- more than $400,000 in humanitarian aid, including medicine, food and products for children

- more than $500,000 in solar panels and generators destined for hospitals and critical infrastructure

- five tons of medicines collected by the European convoy

The relief supplies should arrive in Havana around March 21, where they will be handed over to local communities.

Participating in the mission are delegates from 19 countries and more than 50 international organizations, including civic associations, trade unions and political movements. The fundraiser has already raised more than 45,000 euros, thanks to contributions from hundreds of individual donors.

According to organizers, the main goal of the mission is to break the island's economic and political isolation and draw international attention to the difficulties facing the Cuban people.

The earthquake

As if that were not enough, on the night of March 16-17, 2026, an earthquake with a magnitude of around 6 struck the island, with an epicenter about 37 kilometers south-east of Imías, in Guantánamo province, at a depth of about 20 kilometers.

For now, there are no reports of injuries or heavy damage, but information is coming in by word of mouth.

(©GreenMe.it 2026 / Managing Editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction / Picture: ©Nhan Hoang via Unsplash)