Cuba hit with another blackout as millions across the island are left without electricity

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s power grid collapsed once again on Friday, leaving millions of people across the island without electricity for at least the sixth time since U.S. President Donald Trump cut off fuel to the island in January.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the islandwide power outage on its official X account and added that officials had begun “activating service-restoration protocols.”

“No one can stand these constant blackouts. There isn’t enough food, there’s no water, there’s no electricity -- you have no idea,” Mercedes Rodriguez, a 60-year-old worker in Havana, told The Associated Press as she waited for public transportation to return home. “The country is in such a sad state, and there are no words for what we’re going through.”

According to Cuban authorities, a failure reportedly occurred in transmission lines in the western part of the country, causing the system to collapse in that area — as far as Matanzas province — and the eastern section of the island was subsequently disconnected.

The official newspaper Granma reported that “unstable” weather conditions further aggravated the grid’s situation.

By dusk, power had been restored to 5% of users in Havana, which has a total of about 862,000 customers, according to official data. Small power-distribution “micro-islands” were being established in the provinces of Camagüey, Pinar del Río and Granma. Some systems serving hospitals and other emergency facilities were being reactivated.

Power grid collapses have become increasingly common over the past two years because of the severe economic crisis gripping the island. They have worsened since January, after the United States imposed an energy blockade aimed at forcing a change in Cuba’s political system.

The restrictions prevent Cuba from importing the fuel needed to operate its thermoelectric power plants, as well as replacement parts required to maintain infrastructure that in many cases has become obsolete. Just one tanker of fuel has been delivered since, by a Russian tanker in March.

The two most recent nationwide blackouts occurred in early August, following others in July and March, as well as several regional outages.

Even when the national power grid is working, Cubans regularly endure outages lasting more than 30 consecutive hours.

The blackouts have had a significant impact on the population and, combined with the energy embargo, have led to transportation limitations, reduced work hours and flight cancellations, in addition to serious public health consequences.

The power outages also affect basic activities such as cooking, water supply, and internet and telephone service.

Abilén Marrero, a homemaker, sat resignedly at the entrance to her building in central Havana on Friday.

“Maybe it’ll come back this afternoon or tomorrow—there’s no way to know. We just have to wait," she said.

An elderly woman sits in the doorway of her home to catch the cool air during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A barber provides service to a client on a street during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

People hang out near eggs for sale on a street during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

A man charges his fan's battery at his doorway using a small solar panel set up on the street during a blackout in Havana, Cuba, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Carson Wentz will start at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, with Kyler Murray still in the NFL concussion protocol and ruled out for the game at Chicago.

Murray was a limited participant in practice all week and simply ran out of time to make more more progress after taking an illegal hit to the head in the first quarter of his debut for Minnesota in the season opener.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said he expects Murray to clear the protocol early next week and be able to play at Tampa Bay on Sept. 27.

“Kyler showed a lot of progress,” O’Connell said. “He’s doing well.”

Murray took a jarring hit to the side of his helmet that drew an unnecessary roughness penalty on Green Bay safety Javon Bullard, leaving Murray in the type of defensive pose that can accompany brain trauma.

Because Murray didn't slide feet first and forward, he left himself open to contact, even though Bullard's lowered shoulder was deemed excessive as Murray ducked toward the turf.

“He plays with such explosiveness that he was trying to go feet-first, but he ended up going kind of sideways,” O'Connell said. “The game speed and the velocity of the play ended up putting him in a risk-worthy opportunity there for him to get hurt, and luckily it seems to be we avoided anything serious. Just how he’s feeling, I’m very encouraged about what next week looks for him.”

The eighth-year player — who signed with the Vikings after being released by Arizona — was eventually able to slowly walk off the field under his own power. He was alert and interacting with teammates in the locker room afterward and looked spry on the practice field this week.

Wentz threw three touchdown passes in relief of Murray to help the Vikings close the game with 29 consecutive points in their 39-22 victory. J.J. McCarthy will be the No. 2 quarterback at Chicago. Against Green Bay, McCarthy was the emergency No. 3 quarterback who can only enter the game if the first two are injured.

The Vikings also ruled out wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who hasn't practiced all week because of a personal family matter. Running back Jordan Mason is also out for at least four games because of a broken thumb. Right tackle Brian O'Neill was listed as questionable with a knee injury that occurred in practice on Wednesday, but O'Connell said he was encouraged by how O'Neill looked on the field on Friday.

Missing Murray, Mason and Jennings will be a challenge in a game the Vikings will likely need a high score to win against a Bears team that put up 59 points last week, but Wentz will at least be more prepared this time than having to come in cold against the Packers.

“It was good to get a lot of reps in, and even just building the game plan and being part of those conversations a little bit more attentively this week,” Wentz said. “It was a good week.”

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell responds to a question during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles under pressure from Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) drops back to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)