Cuba experienced a sweeping electricity failure on Monday that affected the entire archipelago, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The blackout, described as one of the most extensive in recent years, disrupted residential, commercial and public services nationwide.
Government agencies said emergency response teams were dispatched to key substations and power plants to diagnose the cause and begin repairs. Officials emphasized that restoring supply to hospitals, water treatment facilities and transport hubs was a priority, and that crews were working around the clock to bring the grid back online.
The outage coincided with a period of heightened strain on Cuba's energy infrastructure, which has faced challenges related to aging equipment, limited fuel imports and recent weather events. While the exact trigger of the blackout was not detailed, authorities indicated that technical faults within the national grid were being investigated.
Public utilities reported that some areas had already seen partial restoration of electricity, though full service was expected to take several hours to days, depending on the region. Residents were advised to conserve any remaining power, avoid unnecessary use of appliances and follow safety guidelines issued by local authorities.
The blackout also impacted telecommunications, with reports of reduced mobile network coverage and internet connectivity in several provinces. Emergency shelters were set up in schools and community centres to provide relief for those affected, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly and patients requiring medical equipment.
Al Jazeera noted that the incident underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in Cuba's power sector, which has been a focus of recent government initiatives aimed at modernising the grid and diversifying energy sources. The current restoration effort is part of a broader strategy to improve resilience against future disruptions.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Al Jazeera — All News — original source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/19/cuba-works-to-restore-power-after-another-major-nationwide-blackout?traffic_source=rss.