A catastrophic failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant—Cuba's primary power provider—has triggered a massive blackout across Havana and the western provinces as of March 5, 2026. The outage, caused by a critical boiler leak, comes amid a tightening energy blockade that has seen vital fuel shipments from Venezuela and Mexico evaporate. Officials warn that full restoration could take up to 72 hours, leaving millions to navigate a deepening humanitarian crisis without refrigeration, water, or reliable communication.