Overview
- The national electrical system suffered a total collapse on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, producing a widespread blackout that left millions across the island without power.
- Cuban authorities reported the immediate trigger was a failure in high‑voltage transmission lines in central and western provinces and activated service‑restoration protocols.
- By evening limited service had returned to scattered neighborhoods and to some hospital systems as operators formed isolated distribution 'micro‑islands' to protect critical facilities.
- The outage is the seventh major nationwide blackout this year and the 12th since late 2024, reflecting long‑term failures of aging thermoelectric plants and chronic diesel shortages.
- Responsibility for the crisis is contested: Havana blames a U.S. energy blockade that began in January while U.S. officials point to degraded infrastructure and internal management problems, and the prolonged outages are raising urgent public‑health and humanitarian concerns.