On Thursday night, a truck collided with a power substation in Aguada de Pasajeros, located in Cienfuegos province, resulting in a blackout that affected over 9,000 customers and exacerbated the municipality's already challenging energy situation.
The incident took place around 11:00 p.m., approximately one kilometer past the Real Campiña junction. The vehicle lost control and struck the substation on the 33-kilovolt line 1415.
Armando Carranza Valladares, posting on Facebook, noted that there were no injuries or fatalities reported, while authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
The collision destroyed six circuits of the line, numbered 40, 42, 43, 44, 70, and 73, cutting off electricity for 9,026 customers.
Material damages include toppled poles that need replacing, broken insulators, disconnected conductors, and other poles requiring realignment.
In addition, the substation's transformer suffered significant damage, and the spill of dielectric oil has complicated recovery efforts.
According to the source, the Basic Electrical Organization of Cienfuegos is working to restore power via an alternative route while preparing for the complete repair of the infrastructure.
Carranza warned that the restoration work will be complicated, involving the replacement of poles, installation of new insulators, reconnection of conductors, and correction of other impact-related damages.
Local authorities indicated that full restoration of service will not be immediate due to the resources and specialized techniques required. However, they assured that teams from the Basic Electrical Organization and the municipal authorities will continue efforts until the supply is fully restored.
The accident strikes a municipality already suffering from a severe electrical crisis. Residents of Aguada de Pasajeros have reported blackouts lasting up to 48 consecutive hours since June, while the Real Campiña community, near the accident site, recently experienced outages of up to three days and 27 days without potable water.
On Thursday, Cuba's electrical system nearly hit another blackout record with an impact of 2,315 MW, close to the all-time high of 2,341 MW recorded on July 8.
For Friday, a deficit of 2,160 MW is projected, with a generation availability of just 1,070 MW against a forecasted demand of 3,200 MW, according to the Electric Union.
Traffic accidents have previously worsened Cuba's fragile electrical network. In October 2025, a truck hit a pole in Ranchuelo, Villa Clara province, causing an explosion at the Gran Panel substation and cutting service to over 10,000 people.
Understanding Cuba's Electricity Challenges
What caused the blackout in Aguada de Pasajeros?
The blackout was caused by a truck colliding with a power substation, resulting in significant damage to the electrical infrastructure.
How many customers were affected by the outage?
The power outage affected more than 9,000 customers in Aguada de Pasajeros.
What are the challenges in restoring electricity in the area?
Restoring electricity involves replacing damaged poles, installing new insulators, reconnecting conductors, and addressing other damages, which requires significant resources and specialized techniques.
Are power outages common in this region of Cuba?
Yes, residents of Aguada de Pasajeros and surrounding areas have reported frequent and prolonged blackouts, highlighting a severe ongoing energy crisis.