Millions of people across Cuba were left without electricity after the country’s national power grid collapsed on Monday, triggering widespread outages across the island.

Large parts of the country, including the capital Havana, were plunged into darkness, with residents relying on headlamps, generators and battery-powered lights overnight.

State power operator UNE said early on Tuesday that electricity was gradually being restored to several provinces and cities, though the process was expected to take time.

The blackout marks the latest in a series of major power failures affecting the Caribbean nation, where aging infrastructure and persistent fuel shortages have placed significant strain on the electricity system.

Cuba’s energy crisis has been exacerbated by reduced fuel imports, including declining supplies from Venezuela, as well as restrictions linked to policies by the United States targeting oil shipments to the island.

The outage has had a cascading impact on daily life. In many areas, water supply systems stopped functioning due to the lack of electricity needed to power pumps, worsening already difficult living conditions.

The crisis has also sparked public frustration. In central Havana, some residents staged protests, banging pots and pans in a rare display of dissent.

“It is not just the blackout,” said one resident, describing shortages of food, water and fuel, as well as rising prices driven by transportation challenges.

Another resident said the situation had become routine, reflecting the frequency of outages in recent months.

Cuba, home to around 10 million people, relies heavily on imported fuel to sustain its electricity generation. Officials have warned that the country has gone months without receiving major oil shipments, further straining its already fragile grid.

Amid the worsening crisis, Donald Trump has increased pressure on the Cuban government, warning of potential consequences if the country does not “make a deal,” while also suggesting the United States could take a more direct role in its future.

Authorities in Cuba say efforts are ongoing to stabilise the grid and restore full power, as engineers work to prevent further nationwide disruptions.

Ten patients have died after a fire broke out in the trauma centre intensive care unit of a government hospital in the eastern Indian state of Odisha.

The victims were all patients receiving treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in the city of Cuttack. Eleven hospital staff members are currently receiving treatment for burns suffered while attempting to rescue those trapped in the blaze, according to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Officials said the fire started around 02:30 local time on Monday (21:00 GMT Sunday) in the trauma care ICU. Early investigations suggest the blaze may have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the hospital and managed to bring the fire under control. Patients in the affected units were evacuated and transferred to other wards within the same facility as the rescue operation unfolded.

SCB Medical College and Hospital is among the largest government-run medical institutions in Odisha and serves thousands of patients each year.

After visiting the hospital, Majhi told reporters that the fire damaged the trauma care ICU as well as an adjoining intensive care unit and nearby wards. He praised the actions of medical workers and security staff who, he said, “risked their lives” to save patients during the emergency.

The state government has announced financial compensation for the families of those who died and has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. Authorities say strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible once investigations are completed.

Hospital fires are reported periodically across India, with many incidents linked to electrical faults and overloaded systems. Medical facilities are particularly vulnerable due to the heavy use of electrical equipment, oxygen systems and the presence of patients who cannot easily be moved during emergencies.

Several similar tragedies have occurred in recent years. In 2024, a fire in the neonatal intensive care unit of a medical college in Jhansi killed at least 10 newborn babies. In 2021, a blaze at Vijay Vallabh Hospital in Virar claimed the lives of 13 patients being treated for Covid-19. Another fire the same year at a newborn care unit in Bhandara district in Maharashtra killed 10 infants.

Authorities say investigations into the Odisha hospital fire are ongoing as officials work to determine the exact cause and ensure similar incidents are prevented in the future.

US President Donald Trump has called on allied nations to send naval forces to help secure the vital Strait of Hormuz following a series of attacks on commercial shipping linked to tensions with Iran.

Trump suggested that countries including the United Kingdom, Japan, China and South Korea could contribute warships to escort tankers through the narrow waterway.

However, defence analysts say the proposal may be premature, particularly as there is little indication that the conflict in the region is close to ending.

Even the United States Navy is not currently escorting tankers through the shipping corridor, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as one of the world’s most important routes for oil exports.

The strait has become increasingly dangerous for commercial vessels, with several tankers already reported to have been struck while attempting to pass through the area.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron, president of France, said his country would be willing to deploy naval forces to the region but only for what he described as a “purely escort mission.”

Macron added that such a deployment would likely occur only after the most intense phase of the conflict had subsided.

Trump’s appeal for allied support comes despite comments he made last week suggesting the United States did not require additional military help from Britain.

At the time, Trump said the US did not need the UK to deploy an aircraft carrier to the region “after we’ve already won.”

The Royal Navy operates two aircraft carriers, including HMS Prince of Wales. The vessel has recently been placed on high readiness but is currently scheduled to sail to the North Atlantic rather than the Middle East.

At present, the Royal Navy has no warships directly stationed in the region. However, the destroyer HMS Dragon is on its way to provide additional air defence support for Cyprus as tensions continue to rise across the wider Middle East.