A blaze erupted Sunday afternoon at the Mulgoba Bus Terminal in the Boyeros municipality of Havana, consuming several decommissioned vehicles before firefighters managed to bring it under control, as per official reports. The Provincial Transport Company of Havana released a brief statement on Facebook, indicating that the fire damaged buses that were already "decommissioned and in the process of being handed over to the Raw Material Recovery Company." The statement assured the public that "buses in active operation remained unaffected."
Around 3:00 p.m., staff on duty at the terminal noticed "a fire in the brush adjacent to the perimeter fence" at the rear of the facility. Realizing the flames were advancing towards the bus area, they promptly alerted the fire department. The state-run company affirmed that the fire was completely extinguished, sharing a photo that showed damage to at least four buses, which, according to the official version, were out of service.
The post also included an image depicting another section of the terminal where vehicles appeared unscathed by the fire. In the comments, some individuals expressed concern and questioned why buses potentially salvageable for continued use were being discarded as raw materials, especially given the ongoing transportation crisis in the capital.
This incident adds to a series of fires reported over the past five days in different provinces, sparking widespread concern among residents. These fires have impacted state-owned facilities and assets. On Thursday morning, a bus from Transtur carrying 20 Czech tourists, a translator, and two drivers caught fire near the lookout point at Topes de Collantes in Sancti Spíritus province. Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries, but the bus was completely destroyed, and tourists lost some of their luggage.
Later that day, a public transport bus was engulfed in flames at the Playa Terminal in Havana due to an electrical system short circuit. The day before, a major fire was reported in the Boca de Camarioca area near Varadero in Matanzas province. The blaze occurred near an oil pipeline in an oilfield, creating a massive column of black smoke visible from various points in Matanzas and Varadero, causing alarm among the local populace.
Early Wednesday morning, another fire broke out at the headquarters of the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba on Zanja Street No. 352, corner of Escobar in Central Havana. This marks the second such incident in just four months.
Addressing the Surge of Fires in Cuba
What caused the fire at the Mulgoba Bus Terminal in Havana?
The fire at the Mulgoba Bus Terminal was attributed to a blaze in the brush adjacent to the perimeter fence of the facility. It began in the afternoon and was quickly addressed by the on-duty staff and firefighters.
Were there any injuries reported in the recent Havana bus fire?
No injuries were reported in the fire at the Mulgoba Bus Terminal. The affected buses were not in active service, and the incident was contained without harm to individuals.
Why are fires becoming more frequent in Cuba?
The exact reasons for the recent increase in fires across Cuba remain unclear, but they have affected state facilities and assets, raising concerns among citizens about safety and resource management.