Cuba suffered an island-wide blackout on Monday, the third major power outage this year, as its increasingly strained energy system collapsed. The outage affected approximately 10 million people, with limited electricity service being restored in some areas.

The state-run Electric Union confirmed a "a total disconnection of the National Electric Power System" and stated that the causes were under investigation. This incident highlights the deepening energy crisis facing the island, characterized by chronic fuel shortages and deteriorating electrical infrastructure.

During the blackout, public transportation was largely halted, and officials reported the cancellation of tens of thousands of surgeries nationwide. Authorities later announced that one generating unit had resumed operations, and "microsystems are already operational throughout the country, to ensure protection for vital services."

Cuban officials, including Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy and President Miguel Díaz-Canel, blamed U.S. policies for exacerbating the energy struggles. Levy referred to the situation as an "energy blockade," while Díaz-Canel described the U.S. measures as "genocidal."

The crisis has intensified following actions that cut off key fuel sources. In January, the Trump administration expanded sanctions, threatening foreign banks and companies connected to Cuba's military-linked economy. Additionally, a U.S. military operation earlier this year captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, halting Venezuelan oil exports, which had been a significant fuel source for Cuba.

While Cuba produces only about 40% of its fuel needs, a Russian tanker delivered roughly 730,000 barrels of oil in March. However, these supplies were reportedly depleted by the end of April. To conserve fuel, the Cuban government has implemented scheduled power outages that have, in some instances, lasted over 24 consecutive hours.

This latest outage follows similar nationwide blackouts in early and mid-March. The country's energy crisis has been ongoing, with past incidents affecting western provinces or the entire island.