A major power outage hit western Cuba, including Havana, as the national grid struggles with aging plants and dwindling oil supplies, impacting millions.

The government attributes the crisis to decades of sanctions, with recent oil shortages from Venezuela and Mexico, influenced by U.S. pressure, worsening the situation.

The U.S. Embassy attributes the outage to an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, with restoration potentially taking at least three days.

Residents expressed resilience and determination to continue despite the blockade and outages.

Fuel shortages forced rationing of services like trash collection and transportation, while residents increasingly turn to solar solutions to keep essential power running amid rising fuel prices.

Some traffic lights and businesses remained operational thanks to solar panels or backup generators, reflecting adaptive responses to the crisis.

Residents cope with rationing and rely on alternative methods such as solar panels to keep essential services going.

State media and officials said at least one plant was back online as coordination continued to restore the National Electric System, with Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy leading the response.

Officials acknowledged a complex energy situation but stressed ongoing efforts to restore electricity and the importance of trust in electrical workers.

Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy noted that one plant was back online and emphasized continued restoration efforts.

Personal accounts highlighted the human impact, with residents describing disrupted daily routines and reliance on public services and family support during outages.

The outage disrupted daily life and transportation, with many buses out of service due to fuel shortages and people seeking rides home.