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Story perspectives

Cuba suffers third blackout in nine days after US blockade

7/15/2026

36 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The national power grid collapsed on July 14, 2026, marking Cuba’s third major blackout in nine days.
The blackout followed a U.S. oil blockade imposed by President Donald Trump after Washington deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan 3.
The outage disabled traffic lights throughout Havana.
Residents such as 70-year-old Julia Valdes said the blackout spoiled food and heightened frustration, noting it was the third collapse this week.

History

Historical Context

The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis saw President John F. Kennedy impose a naval quarantine after Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev placed missiles on Cuba. The standoff entrenched U.S. hostility toward the island and left Cuba dependent on Soviet-built power facilities. Decades of limited upgrades have left the grid fragile, so any disruption of fuel supplies can trigger widespread outages.

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Story summary

The national power grid collapsed on July 14, 2026, marking Cuba’s third major blackout in nine days.
The blackout followed a U.S. oil blockade imposed by President Donald Trump after Washington deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan 3.
The outage disabled traffic lights throughout Havana.
Residents such as 70-year-old Julia Valdes said the blackout spoiled food and heightened frustration, noting it was the third collapse this week.

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