Top things to know
- Een magnitude-6 aardbeving trof oostelijk Cuba op 17 maart 2026 om 00:28 lokale tijd en viel samen met een landelijke stroomstoring.
- Meer dan negen miljoen mensen kwamen zonder elektriciteit, telefoon en internet te zitten, het zesde nationale blackout in een jaar en een half.
- Amerikaanse en Europese seismologische diensten rapporteerden verschillende magnitudes en diepten voor de hoofdschok en naschokken.
A magnitude-6 earthquake shook eastern Cuba at 00:28 local time on March 17, 2026, coinciding with a nationwide blackout that left more than nine million people without electricity, telephone or internet service. According to Cuba's National Seismological Research Center (CENAIS), the tremor had its epicenter 37 kilometers southeast of Imías in Guantánamo province, at a depth of about 20 kilometers, and was felt in both Guantánamo and Santiago de Cuba.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a main shock of magnitude 5.8 at the same time, located at a depth of 11.6 kilometers, followed sixteen minutes later by an aftershock of magnitude 4.7 at a depth of 10 kilometers. The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported a main shock of magnitude 5.8 and a subsequent aftershock of magnitude 4.1, without specifying depths. The discrepancy in magnitude and depth between the agencies highlights the challenges of rapid seismic assessment in the Caribbean region.
The seismic event occurred while the National Electric System (SEN) of Cuba suffered a failure that triggered the blackout. Officials stated that more than nine million residents were cut off from power, landline and mobile telephone connections, and internet access. The outage is described as the sixth national blackout in the past year and a half, and the authorities have opened an investigation into the causes of the SEN collapse. Cuban officials emphasized that restoring electricity is a priority to prevent further disruption of healthcare, water supply and communications.
Even before this total disconnection, the energy situation on the island was already critical. Reports indicated that Havana experienced daily power cuts of roughly fifteen hours, while many provinces endured continuous outages lasting up to two days. The combination of the earthquake and the pre-existing energy crisis has heightened concerns about the resilience of Cuba's infrastructure, especially in coastal zones where the tremor originated offshore.
In the aftermath, emergency teams have been deployed to assess damage to transmission lines, substations and telecommunications towers. Preliminary reports suggest that several high-voltage lines in the eastern corridor suffered tripping, while mobile networks experienced temporary loss of signal due to power loss at base stations. The government has asked citizens to conserve energy and to use battery-powered radios for official updates.
International monitoring agencies continue to share seismic data, and regional cooperation mechanisms are being reviewed to improve early-warning capabilities for both earthquakes and grid failures. The incident underscores the interdependence of natural hazards and critical services, prompting calls for reinforced infrastructure and diversified energy sources in the Caribbean. Authorities estimate that restoring full power could take several days, depending on the extent of damage to the grid and the availability of fuel for backup generators.