# False earthquake alert in Cuba

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/false-earthquake-alert-in-cuba
> Updated: 2026-08-23T01:10:01.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 3.

On August 18, a false earthquake alert triggered widespread panic across several Cuban provinces, including Havana, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba. Thousands of Android users received urgent notifications advising them to seek shelter, leading many to flee their homes and workplaces.

Authorities from the National Center for Seismological Research (CENAIS) and the Cuban Civil Defense officially debunked the alert, describing it as “totally false” and confirming that no significant tectonic movements were detected. While Google denied responsibility, stating its system did not issue warnings in Cuba, investigations by the state magazine Juventud Técnica suggested the alert may have been distributed via Cell Broadcast technology through the mobile network operator Etecsa.

On August 23, ETECSA admitted that the incident was caused by a “technical-human error.” The company explained that specialists in the Core Network area misconfigured a planned simulation during internal network testing, which caused the notification to be broadcast to the general public instead of remaining within a controlled environment. ETECSA issued an official apology, noting that measures have been taken regarding those responsible and that protocols are being reviewed to prevent future occurrences. Dr. Enrique Diego Arango Arias, head of the National Seismological Service, previously expressed concern that the lack of accountability could lead to a loss of public trust in official warnings.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-23: ETECSA admits error caused false earthquake alerts in Cuba

Cuba's state telecom ETECSA admitted a false earthquake alert sent to thousands of users was caused by a technical-human error during internal network testing, causing widespread public panic.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/etecsa-admits-error-caused-false-earthquake-alerts-in-cuba

### 2026-08-20: Cuba false earthquake alert investigation points to mobile network

A false earthquake alert sent to mobile devices across Cuba has sparked investigations after Google denied involvement, with evidence pointing toward the Cell Broadcast system via Etecsa.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuba-false-earthquake-alert-investigation-points-to-mobile-network

### 2026-08-18: Cuba authorities debunk false earthquake alert that caused widespread panic

A false earthquake alert on Android devices caused widespread panic across several Cuban provinces on Tuesday, though authorities confirmed no seismic activity occurred.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cuba-authorities-debunk-false-mobile-earthquake-alerts

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Cite as: False earthquake alert in Cuba. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/false-earthquake-alert-in-cuba