A fierce blaze ravaged a minimum of three homes on Pedro A. Pérez Street, between 1st and 2nd North, opposite the railway in Guantánamo province, on the night of April 11th, while the area was engulfed in a complete power blackout.
The local news station, Solvisión, verified the incident following reports circulating on social media from various users.
In a matter of minutes, videos and photos of the inferno began appearing on platforms like Facebook and TikTok, where residents and those with relatives in the vicinity provided real-time accounts of the catastrophe's scale.
"A devastating night fire on Pedro A. Pérez / 1st and 2nd North in Guantánamo province. Completely dark, nothing remains of this house. Very sad," shared Mailyn Rosales Limonta on Facebook.
The account named Sonicarpa Srl expressed personal anguish over the news: "I received the bad news from my hometown, on the same block where I lived. My mother is there, and neighbors lost their homes amid a blackout. The fire's cause is unknown, but the reality is that several homes were damaged."
Firefighters arrived at the scene with a support tanker but faced dire challenges as they ran out of water, exacerbating the situation.
"I was there witnessing everything. It was incredibly distressing to see everything burning and the firefighters running out of water to extinguish the flames," an internet user commented.
Another witness confirmed the extent of the damage: "Three houses are gone. It's heartbreaking in front of the railway, but it's now extinguished. Such sorrow."
The Martínez family was among those affected. One user identified her aunt's home among the ruins, exclaiming, "Oh my God, it's my aunt's house."
The fire was eventually brought under control, and fortunately, there were no human casualties. "Thank God everything was contained. The people are safe," Rosales Limonta confirmed.
While the cause of the fire remains unknown, the context speaks volumes. Cuba is grappling with an unprecedented energy crisis, with electrical shortages ranging between 1,630 and 1,945 MW, resulting in blackouts affecting 55% of the national territory.
Prolonged power outages force families to rely on candles for illumination and makeshift methods for cooking, while sudden power restoration can lead to overheated appliances and potential electrical short circuits.
The Guantánamo blaze is not an isolated incident. On April 6th, a fire destroyed a home in Santiago de Cuba, leaving five children homeless. On the same April 11th, a fire at Santiago de Cuba's Saturnino Lora Hospital, triggered by an electrical surge, necessitated the evacuation of 12 patients.
Understanding the Impact of Power Outages in Cuba
What caused the fire in Guantánamo?
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, but it occurred during a total blackout, which is common in Cuba's current energy crisis.
How are power outages affecting daily life in Cuba?
Frequent power outages force families to use candles for lighting and makeshift cooking methods, increasing the risk of fires and electrical incidents.
Were there any casualties in the Guantánamo fire?
Thankfully, there were no human casualties reported in the Guantánamo fire.
Is the energy crisis in Cuba leading to more fires?
The energy crisis, with frequent outages and surges, increases the likelihood of fires due to reliance on candles and the risk of electrical short circuits.