STORY: Dozens of Cubans gathered on a street on Monday (March 16), banging pots and pans in central Havana to protest against the widespread blackout that has left around 10 million people without power.

The country's grid operator said the national electric grid collapsed on Monday amid a U.S.-imposed oil blockade that has crippled the island's already obsolete generation system.

Several small groups of residents across Havana have in recent days banged pots in protest against extended blackouts. The series of widespread outages that last for hours or days sparked a rare violent protest in northern Cuba on Saturday (March 14).

Similar protests have emerged in cities such as Moron and Santiago de Cuba, underscoring growing public frustration over the government's handling of the crisis.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: PEOPLE BANGING POTS AND PANS IN PROTEST POWER OUTAGE

SHOWS: HAVANA, CUBA (MARCH 16, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BANGING POTS AND PANS, USING FLASHLIGHTS ON STREET IN PROTEST AGAINST POWER OUTAGE

2. MOTORCYCLIST RIDING PAST PROTESTERS ON STREET

3. VARIOUS OF POLICE VEHICLES ON STREET

4. PEOPLE BANGING POTS AND PANS IN PROTEST ON CENTRAL STREET