In the early hours of Monday, an improperly secured 45 kg LPG gas cylinder triggered an explosion on Delicia Street, collapsing three homes and damaging 16 others in the Rodas municipality of Cienfuegos province.
The incident resulted in five injuries: two minors were treated and released from the "Paquito González Cueto" pediatric hospital, two adults sustained minor injuries, and a man named Juan de Dios is in critical condition with burns covering 95% of his body.
Technical investigations revealed the explosion originated from a valve and hose connection leak, which was ignited by a fire or electrical source, according to a report by the regime's spokesperson "Las Cosas de Fernanda" on Facebook.
Local authorities provided immediate medical assistance and designated the "La Playita" recreational center as a shelter for affected families. Cleanup crews continued working through the debris at the time of publication.
Beneath the immediate tragedy lies a deeper issue: five gas cylinders, large and small, were found in the owner's home without contracts with CUPET, amid a severe shortage affecting Cienfuegos for months.
“Gas, turned into a clandestine commodity, is stored in homes ill-equipped to handle it, increasing the risk of explosions that spare neither guilty nor innocent,” warns the source.
Structural Crisis and Market Chaos
This crisis is rooted in systemic issues. In January 2025, a malfunction at the Cienfuegos Refinery halted LPG supply "until further notice," impacting over 100,000 households in provinces like Matanzas.
By May 2025, Cuba had a gas ship anchored for nearly four months due to payment issues, with available coverage only lasting between 17 and 20 days. By July of that year, GLP sales were suspended in almost all provinces after exhausting the last received shipment.
The resulting black market saw exorbitant prices: in September 2025, small gas cylinders were priced between 30,000 and 50,000 pesos in Cienfuegos. In March 2026, it was reported that illegal networks were overfilling cylinders up to 80 pounds, exceeding the 60-pound limit, further heightening explosion risks in homes across Havana and Cienfuegos.
Recurring Accidents and Inadequate Solutions
This is not the first accident of its kind. In October 2025, a gas cylinder explosion at the Brisas del Mar hotel in Caibarién, Villa Clara, injured three people.
The chronic shortage of GLP, a result of decades of mismanagement and economic collapse under the Cuban dictatorship, forces citizens to store gas clandestinely and unsafely.
"When gas is hidden within walls, the spark that ignites it not only destroys houses: it destroys lives," concludes the report on the Rodas tragedy.
Understanding the Gas Crisis in Cuba
What caused the explosion in Cienfuegos?
The explosion was caused by a leak from a valve and hose connection of a 45 kg LPG gas cylinder, which was ignited by either a fire or electrical source.
How is the gas crisis affecting the people of Cienfuegos?
The gas crisis has led to a black market where gas is sold at exorbitant prices and stored unsafely in homes, increasing the risk of explosions and accidents.
What measures have authorities taken following the explosion?
Authorities provided immediate medical assistance and set up a recreational center as a shelter for the affected families, while cleanup crews worked on debris removal.