As
The claim emerged when an X user posted: "A friend in Cuba just notified me that every single patient in that hospital that was on ventilators died tonight. I don't have words," in response to a post showing an image of Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras — Cuba's premier hospital.
(X user @GoodVibePolitik)
The claim then spread to other platforms, garnering millions of views as high-traffic accounts and the magazine Current Affairs shared it (archived). (Current Affairs has since deleted the claim from its story).
Some accounts then began conflating the alleged deaths with a humanitarian concert featuring Irish group Kneecap that took place near the hospital on March 21, claiming the event caused the blackout by consuming a "massive" amount of energy. News media outlet International Business Times reported that the hospital deaths were real (archived), though it said they were caused by the blockade, not the humanitarian concert.
The nationwide blackout occurred as U.S.-imposed economic sanctions continue to cut off Cuba from neighboring countries, including Venezuela, blocking the country's access to essential services and resources to improve failing infrastructure.
Hospital debunks rumor about patients' deaths
On March 23, the hospital confirmed on Facebook that claims of all patients on ventilators dying as a result of the blackout were false. The post, translated by a Spanish speaker to English, read:
In the period referenced by this publication, there were no deaths
in our institution associated with failures of assisted mechanical ventilation.
(Facebook user Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico "Hermanos Ameijeiras")
We reached out to the hospital seeking further information regarding deaths that may have occurred before or after the March 21 blackout as well as the hospital's mechanical ventilation practices and will update this story if we receive a response.
The X user who originally posted the claim deleted his post (archived) and later noted (archived) that there was "uncertainty" surrounding the alleged deaths:
I had received info from someone associated with the hospital that ventilator patients had died. Deleted it after I spoke to more people as it seems that there is some uncertainty from other staff/officials. Seemed irresponsible to keep up until clarification can be made.
Did humanitarian concert trigger blackout?
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap reportedly gave an impromptu performance at a concert during its trip to Cuba with the Nuestra América aid delivery convoy on March 21.
As the original rumor that patients on ventilators died gained momentum, it evolved to accuse the concert of triggering the blackout.
"Something that probably your audience doesn't know they attended this concert by an Irish group but the light show sucked all the energy, all the electricity, in that neighborhood," U.S.
Authentic footage of the concert accompanied several highly circulated posts accusing Kneecap of using "massive amounts of electricity," supposedly causing the people on ventilators to die.
Beyond the false rumor about patients on ventilators dying, there was no evidence that the performance featuring Kneecap triggered the blackout.
According to the Cuban Electric Union, an agency under
The total blackout of the National Electric System (SEN) occurred following the shutdown of Unit No. 6 at Nuevitas. From that moment on, a cascade effect occurred among the units that were online. At this time, a protocol for the gradual restoration of the SEN is implemented, and micro-islands and micro-systems are activated to provide power to vital centers, hospitals, and water systems. The restoration process is directed from the National Load Dispatch Center and is carried out in conjunction with the dispatch centers in each province and the energy-supplying entities, with the participation of Unión Cuba Petróleo.
(Facebook)
As of this writing, the March 21 blackout was the second to occur that week and the third in March 2026.