On Saturday morning, state-run media reported a complete disconnection from the national electro energetic system at 6:15 a.m. local time, causing widespread alarm across the nation. The Electric Union is actively working to restore power, providing regular progress updates.

In the capital, Havana, the morning streets were sparse with cars, and traffic lights were non-operational, contributing to the chaos. Residents ventured out in search of food, with many concerned about spoiled provisions in their refrigerators. While a limited number of stores opened, some state-run establishments operated without power and privately-owned ones employed generators.

To alleviate some of the burden, an open-air market was instituted in the upscale Vedado neighborhood, featuring a variety of agricultural products like root vegetables, rice, and other produce. However, this was a small consolation for residents like Alexia de la Cruz and Luis Utria in Old Havana, who expressed their frustration and desperation over the severe situation.

The blackout initially struck the entire island on Friday at around 11 a.m., following the failure of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, Cuba's largest power facility. This left nearly all of Cuba's 10 million inhabitants without electricity. Prior to this, the government had attempted to stave off a total blackout by closing schools and instructing most state workers to remain home, but these measures fell short.

Adding to the crisis, Hurricane Oscar formed off the coast of the Bahamas, prompting a hurricane watch for the eastern provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas. The aging and deteriorating infrastructure in Cuba has long contributed to chronic power outages, which have significantly worsened recently. The government has frequently cited the decades-old U.S. embargo as a barrier to importing necessary parts, while also pointing to rising energy demands and fuel shortages.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed the nation on Friday night, stating that efforts to restore the electric service would be relentless. He attributed the lack of fuel and financial resources to the U.S. embargo, cautioning that periodic blackouts would persist even after power restoration. Bruno Rodríguez, Cuba's foreign minister, echoed this sentiment on social media, arguing that the embargo’s impact in just 18 days equated to the annual cost of maintaining the electrical system.

Cuba's broader economic crisis, exacerbated by tightened U.S. sanctions under former President Donald Trump and the pandemic's toll on tourism, has led to severe shortages in food, medicine, water, and fuel. With key oil supplies from ally Venezuela reduced and decreased shipments from other countries like Russia and Mexico, the island has faced substantial difficulties.

Facing dire economic conditions, over a million Cubans, about 10% of the population, have fled the island between 2022 and 2023, according to national statistics. As power outages and resource shortages persist, the nation confronts an increasingly arduous path to stability. Orlando Matos and Carmen Sesin contributed reporting from Havana and Miami, respectively.