Cuba remained largely without power on Saturday morning, after the island nation’s grid collapsed the night before, knocking out electricity for 10 million people and raising fresh questions about the viability of its antiquated generating system.

At sunrise, the island’s grid operator UNE said it was generating only a trickle of electricity – around 225 MW, or less than 10% of total demand, enough to cover some vital services like hospitals, water supply and food production centers.

CUBA WORKING TO REESTABLISH ELECTRICAL SERVICE AFTER SECOND GRID COLLAPSE

Officials said they had begun the process of firing up the country’s decades-old generation plants, but gave no timeline for restoring service.

Cuba´s grid failed Friday evening around 8:15 p.m. (0015 GMT) after an aging component of a transmission line at a substation in Havana shorted, beginning a chain reaction that completely shut down power generation across the island, UNE officials said.

The grid collapse follows a string of nationwide blackouts late last year that plunged Cuba’s frail power generating system into near-total disarray, stressed by fuel shortages, natural disaster and economic crisis.

Most Cubans outside the country’s capital of Havana have already been living for months with rolling blackouts that peaked at 20 hours a day in recent weeks.

Havana was still largely without electricity on Saturday morning. Light traffic navigated intersections with no functioning stoplights and cellular internet was weak or non-existent in some areas.

Abel Bonne chatted with friends on Havana’s Malecon waterfront boulevard early Saturday, taking in the fresh sea breeze after a stuffy night without power.

«Right now, no one knows when the power will come back on,» he said. «This is the first time this had happened this year, but last year it happened three times.»

Severe shortages of food, medicine and water have made life increasingly unbearable for many Cubans, and people have been fleeing the island in recent years in record-breaking numbers.

Cuba blames its economic woes on a Cold War-era U.S. trade embargo, a web of laws and regulations that complicate financial transactions and the acquisition of essentials like fuel and spare parts.

A grid official on Saturday morning said Cuba had been unable to update antiquated transmission and generation components because of the restrictions.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently tightened sanctions on the island’s communist-run government, vowing to restore a «tough» policy toward the long-time U.S. foe.

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Havana resident Yunior Reyes, a bike taxi driver, was back on the job Saturday morning despite the blackout, fretting that his food reserves might spoil in the day’s heat.

«We’re all in the same situation,» he said. «It’s a lot of work.»

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The government of Greenland called President Donald Trump’s comments about taking control of the country «unacceptable» in a statement Friday.

Officials noted the statement was prompted by Trump’s meeting with the NATO secretary general Thursday, when he reportedly «reiterated his desire for annexation and control of Greenland.»

In response, the leaders of all political parties elected to Inatsisartut, the Parliament of Greenland that includes the Demokraatit, Naleraq, Inuit Ataqatigiit, Siumut and Atassut parties, issued the statement on X.

GREENLAND PM SEEKS INDEPENDENCE FOLLOWING TRUMP ACQUISITION COMMENTS

«We — all the party leaders — cannot accept the repeated statements regarding annexation and control of Greenland,» leaders wrote. «We find this behavior toward friends and allies in a defense alliance unacceptable.»

They added they «must underscore that Greenland will continue serving ITS people through diplomatic relations, in accordance with international law.»

Anthon Frederiksen of the Naleraq Party hangs campaign posters before the general election March 10 in Ilulissat, Greenland. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

AMB. CARLA SANDS: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S FOCUS ON GREENLAND — WHY WE HOPE TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP

The document was signed by Greenlandic politicians Jens Frederik Nielsen of the Demokraatit party, Pele Broberg of the Naleraq, Múte B. Egede of the Inuit Ataqatigiit, Vivian Motzfeldt of the Siumut and Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen of the Atassut.

«We all support this wholeheartedly and strongly distance ourselves from attempts to create discord. Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people, and we (as leaders) stand in unison,» they wrote.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Demokraatit party, reacts during an election party in Nuuk, Greenland, March 12.  (Ritzau Scanpix/Mads Claus Rasmussen via Reuters)

In the country’s recent parliamentary elections, the Demokraatit party defeated Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede’s party, Inuit Ataqatigiit.

Independence from Denmark became a core election issue in Trump’s continued comments about U.S. acquisition of Greenland.

Trump tried in his first term to buy the mineral-rich, key geographical territory in what he called a «large real estate deal.»

Secretary of State Marco Rubio faces questions about President Trump’s plans for Greenland. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

TRUMP: US CONSIDERING POSSIBLY BUYING GREENLAND 

Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede said in January the country was «not for sale and will never be for sale.»

American interest in Greenland dates back to the 1800s. 

In 1867, the State Department looked into purchasing Greenland and Iceland, but after World War II, Denmark rejected a proposed $100 million deal from President Harry Truman.

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Acquiring the land would mark the largest expansion of American territory in history, topping the Louisiana Purchase.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this story.