A young Cuban woman, Daniella Pérez (@daniella_perez99), recently shared a TikTok vlog capturing her humorous yet weary account of enduring 30 consecutive hours without electricity in Cuba. This narrative encapsulates the daily struggles faced by millions on the island during the nation's worst electrical crisis in decades.
"Thirty hours of blackout, and for those unaware, I live in Cuba. Yes, my dear, this is hell. No, mom, it's not drama; it's accumulated exhaustion, it's abusive—there's no other name for it," Daniella begins in her video.
Once the power was restored, Daniella wasted no time. She mopped the floors, set up her newly purchased induction pots, and tidied up her room.
She shared her frustration, having been unable to make a simple mango smoothie due to the power cuts, highlighting one of the many daily inconveniences caused by the outages.
Although Daniella owns a generator, she acknowledges its limitations: "The generator's battery isn't endless, and if I use it for some things, I can't use it for others."
With just two hours of power available, priorities were clear: "We have to make the most of these two hours of light," she notes, describing how she changed her sheets because "with these blackouts and this heat, there's an odor you can't ignore."
The video was published during one of the most critical days of the year for Cuba's National Electrical System (SEN). On May 16, the power shortfall peaked at 2,041 MW at 9:10 PM, with an estimated 51% of the country simultaneously plunged into darkness.
Just two days prior, on May 14, the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant—the country's largest single power generator—was taken offline due to a boiler failure, marking its ninth malfunction in 2026 and leading to a partial collapse of the SEN.
On that same day, the Electric Union reported only 976 MW available against a demand of 3,150 MW, resulting in power cuts lasting 20 to 22 hours daily in Havana and complete outages in eastern Cuba, affecting nearly two million people in Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Guantánamo.
Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy openly admitted that Cuba had "absolutely no fuel, no diesel, only accompanying gas" for electricity generation, acknowledging the public's frustration over the prolonged outages.
This crisis is neither new nor temporary. Since early 2026, Cuba has faced historical deficits, with four consecutive months without fuel for power generation between January and April, as acknowledged by the authorities themselves.
Social unrest is rising in tandem: the Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,133 protests in April 2026, reflecting a 29.5% increase compared to the same month the previous year.
Daniella concludes her video with a poignant remark: "You tidy up the bed because the room looks nicer that way, but it's not like you feel up to it every day."
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the recent power crisis in Cuba?
The crisis was exacerbated by the failure of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant and a severe shortage of fuel for electricity generation, resulting in widespread power outages.
How have the power outages affected daily life in Cuba?
The outages have disrupted daily activities, limiting access to basic services and causing significant inconvenience, as illustrated by Daniella Pérez's experience of living without electricity for extended periods.
What measures are being taken to address the power shortages?
The Cuban government has admitted to the challenges posed by the fuel shortage but has not specified concrete measures to resolve the ongoing power crisis.