VIDEO SHOWS: CARS DRIVING IN THE DARK / PEOPLE RESTING ON STEPS OF UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA / PEOPLE FILLING WATER TANKS IN THE DARK / SOUNDBITE FROM LOCAL RESIDENT

SHOWS: HAVANA, CUBA (AUGUST 3, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

STORY: Cuba's electricity grid collapsed late on Sunday (August 2), the state-owned grid operator said, plunging the ‌island of about 10 million people into darkness as blackouts become more frequent. Footage shot in Havana on Monday (August 3) showed streets shrouded in darkness, with residents gathered on the steps of the University of Havana and others using a torchlight to fill water tanks. Havana resident Daimel Rodriguez said he had grown accustomed to sleeping without electricity and that the situation had become unbearable, adding that his only wish was to leave the country. The outage follows three nationwide blackouts in July and comes as a U.S.-imposed oil blockade further strains the island's ageing energy infrastructure. The Union Electrica de Cuba gave no further details of the situation in its posts on X and Facebook. Pressure on the power system has mounted as Cuba struggles to secure fuel imports. (Camera, Editing and Production: Alien Fernández; Writing: Ananya Palyekar)

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH STREETS IN THE DARK

2. PERSON STANDING IN MIDDLE OF DARK STREET AS VEHICLES DRIVE PAST

3. PEOPLE RESTING ON STEPS OF UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA

4. MAN USING MOBILE PHONE WHILE LYING DOWN OUTSIDE UNIVERSITY OF HAVANA

5. VEHICLES DRIVING PAST IN THE DARK

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE USING TORCHLIGHT WHILE FILLING WATER TANKS

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HAVANA RESIDENT, DAIMEL RODRIGUEZ, SAYING:

“The problem with the SEN (National Electric System) going out is that people are exhausted, they can’t take it anymore. This is unbearable. What can I say? I can’t say anything more, this is unbearable. I don’t know if the SEN even exists, my friend. I’ve gotten used to sleeping without electricity. What I need is to leave this country. I don’t need anything else.”

8. MOON

9. CARS DRIVING PAST UNDER MOONLIGHT

10. POINT-OF-VIEW FOOTAGE DRIVING THROUGH DARK STREETS