Cuba is entering another month of severe and widespread blackouts as the country continues to face a near-total fuel blockade imposed by the United States, deepening an energy crisis that has become a defining part of daily life for many people. The outages have affected homes, businesses, and public services across the island, leaving residents to organize their routines around the unpredictable arrival and duration of electricity.
For many Cubans, the repeated loss of power has moved beyond being an inconvenience and has become a central feature of life. Daily tasks that depend on electricity, including cooking, storing food, charging phones, and using basic household appliances, are increasingly difficult. The blackouts have also intensified the strain on older people, families with children, and those living in apartment buildings, where the effects of power cuts can be especially disruptive.
Among those affected is Ana Rosa Romero, a 70-year-old widow who lives in a high-rise building. She says the blackouts have transformed her day-to-day existence, forcing her to adapt to a new reality shaped by uncertainty and discomfort. Like many others, she must plan around when electricity might be available, while also dealing with the emotional and physical toll of repeated outages.
The situation highlights the broader pressures facing Cuba’s energy system, which has struggled under the impact of fuel shortages and infrastructure challenges. The blockade has sharply limited access to fuel, making it harder for the country to generate enough electricity to meet demand. As a result, blackouts have become more frequent and more prolonged, affecting communities nationwide.
Residents say that life during the outages is marked by heat, darkness, and disruption. In high-rise buildings, where elevators may stop working and water pumps can fail, power cuts create additional problems for people who live on upper floors. For older residents such as Romero, these conditions can make ordinary activities more difficult and physically demanding.
The blackouts also affect social life and the wider economy. Shops, workplaces, and services must adjust to interruptions, while households face the challenge of preserving food and maintaining daily routines without reliable power. The instability adds to the sense of pressure on families already coping with shortages and economic hardship.
BBC journalist Will Grant spoke with Romero about how the blackouts have changed her life, offering a glimpse into the human impact of Cuba’s ongoing energy crisis. Her experience reflects that of many across the country who are living through another month of extended outages.
As the blackouts continue, Cubans remain caught between limited fuel supplies, aging infrastructure, and an electricity system under intense strain. For now, many say their lives are increasingly measured not by the hours of the day, but by whether the lights are on.
