HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuba on Friday suffered its second nationwide blackout in five days as twin energy and economic crises, worsened by a six-month United States (US) fuel blockade, cause the electricity grid to crumble.

Writing on X, the state UNE electricity company said that a “total collapse of the national electric system” occurred at 4:30 pm local time (2030GMT).

It did not immediately give an explanation for the ninth nationwide power outage on the island since late 2024, and the fourth since the start of the year.

Cuba was already reeling from years of power shortages when US President Donald Trump cut off its oil supplies in January, as part of a pressure campaign aimed at ending six decades of communist rule.

With only one oil tanker, from Russia, docking in Cuba since then, the country’s dilapidated Soviet-era power plants keep breaking down, and are running out of the fuel they need to generate electricity.

Authorities said Monday’s blackout was caused by voltage instability and low levels of electricity output.

It took nearly two days to reconnect all Cuba to the grid but the lights remained off in many homes as the state rations power in a desperate attempt to conserve fuel.