Cuban Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda stated the health system is on the verge of collapse, according to Al Arabiya Breaking in an X post at approximately 3:20 AM UTC on February 21, 2026, during the 29-minute reporting window from 3:15:48 AM to 3:45:30 AM UTC. The statement from the Health Minister comes amid Cuba's ongoing energy crisis, following President Miguel Díaz-Canel's reappearance at a MININT military exercise earlier on February 21 between 12:15 AM and 3:15 AM UTC, as reported by state media and cited in an X post by @MagJorgeCastro. No additional details on specific causes or measures were provided in the Health Minister's statement, per Al Arabiya Breaking at https://x.com/AlArabiya_Brk/status/2025044055105663372. This warning follows reports of a Russian fuel tanker en route to Cuba, as noted by Bloomberg on February 20, testing US President Donald Trump's sanctions. Social media posts under #cubalibre2026 have documented blackouts and empty ration stores in Havana neighborhoods like Lawton and San Miguel del Padrón on February 19-20.
