A tragic fire in Old Havana was sparked by the explosion of an electric scooter, resulting in the death of a Cuban resident and significant damage to a home located at 59 Picota Street, between Acosta and Jesús María.
The unfortunate event took place between 11:30 p.m. and midnight on Wednesday, as reported by the independent news outlet Cubanet. A contributor to this outlet informed that the deceased was a 60-year-old man, identified by neighbors as Lázaro.
Photos shared on Facebook by user Dulce Esperanza Enríquez Valledor reveal the charred remains of the electric scooter and the extensive damage to the residence, suggesting that the fire was intense and spread rapidly. Although no additional details were provided about the deceased, firefighters were seen at the scene.
Recurring Accidents
This incident adds to the growing list of tragic accidents caused by the explosions of these widely used vehicles in Cuba. In August, a family of six perished following the explosion of an electric scooter in their home in the Luyanó neighborhood of the Diez de Octubre municipality.
According to neighbors, the explosion occurred at house number 203 on Marqués de la Torre Street, where two electric scooters were kept. One of them was left charging overnight and exploded shortly after 7 a.m. Despite neighbors' attempts to rescue the residents, the entrance was locked with a gate and padlock, making it impossible to enter. "They were trapped inside," lamented a would-be rescuer.
Other Notable Incidents
Other such accidents have led to fires without resulting in fatalities, such as an incident in the Lawton area where a workshop and part of a home were completely destroyed. More recently, a garage in a central neighborhood in the city of Matanzas caught fire for the same reason.
Cubanet highlights that these explosions are often caused by various factors, including the use of improper chargers, the replacement of original components with uncertified ones, and not allowing the scooter to cool down before charging.
In the context of Cuba's ongoing shortages, it is common for residents to install homemade lithium batteries in their vehicles when the original ones fail or to make adjustments to increase speed to compensate for the inadequacies of public transportation.