Cuba's Grid Collapses Twice in 24 Hours — Sixth Nationwide Blackout of 2026

Cuba's national power grid collapsed late on August 2, 2026, and after partial restoration overnight, a fresh electrical oscillation triggered a second collapse on August 3 — the sixth island-wide blackout of the year, again cutting power to roughly 10 million people. Cuban state television news director Lázaro Manuel Alonso said 'despite the progress made today, an [electric] oscillation triggered the collapse.' The repeated failures stem from chronic fuel shortages, aging thermoelectric plants, and damaged infrastructure, worsened by the US oil blockade (EO 14380) and the halt of Venezuelan and Mexican oil shipments to the island since Maduro's January 2026 capture.