Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos

Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
A man enters his building during a blackout in Havana, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — Officials in Cuba reported an islandwide blackout Monday as deepening energy and economic crises continue to strain a crumbling power grid. It marked the third major outage in four months. A separate blackout just over a week ago affected western Cuba, leaving millions without electricity.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned Friday that the island has gone more than three months without oil shipments, relying instead on solar power, natural gas and aging thermoelectric plants. Cuba has blamed the crisis on a U.S. energy blockade, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the island.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
A street vendor tends to a customer on the Malecón during a blackout in Havana, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
People wait their turn to buy bread during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Street vendors chat on the Malecón during a blackout in Havana, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
A vehicle drives down a street during a blackout in Havana, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Street vendors chat during a blackout in Havana, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
A man gives a girl a spoonful of soup on a street during a blackout in Havana, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
People lounge on a porch during a blackout in Havana, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
A man finishes putting fuel in his car’s tank, located in the back of the car, during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
A woman receives a donation from Mexico at a state-run bodega during a blackout in Havana, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
A vehicle drives down a street during a blackout in Havana, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
People walk outside during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba plunged into islandwide blackout as power crisis worsens, in photos | iNFOnews.ca
Hairdressers style the hair of their clients in the open air during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

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Ramon Espinosa

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