A young Cuban conducted a peculiar demonstration of the potential danger posed by lithium batteries, which, when malfunctioning or mishandled, frequently cause fires in Cuba.
Through a video sent to journalist Mario Vallejo, the young man demonstrated the reaction of a lithium battery cell when overheated by striking it with a hammer.
“From Cuba, I just received this video via WhatsApp, and the follower says: Greetings Mario, I saw the post about the deaths of children, it is truly very sad. I have had several accidents with lithium batteries. The work you are doing is very important. A battery can contain more than 200 cells, depending on its amperage. This is a small test with a lithium cell. You can use the video to raise awareness. Thank you for your contribution,” the journalist reported in a post on Facebook.
The recording sent by the Cuban shows the moment when the lithium cell reacted to the hammer blows and exploded with force. After being thrown out, the cell burst into flames and started a small fire that the young people participating in the demonstration managed to control, though not without difficulty.
Danger of lithium batteries in Cuba
The video sent to journalist Mario Vallejo is directly related to the recent tragedy of the death of two brothers, following a fire caused by the explosion of a lithium battery in an electric motorcycle.
According to reports, the fire started while the vehicle was connected to the charger in an apartment in the municipality of Habana Vieja. The flames spread rapidly, resulting in the deaths of two brothers.
Andy Casanova, 13 years old, and Keyla Casanova, 16, lost their lives after the explosion of a motorcycle battery that started a fire while they were sleeping in their home. According to sources close to the family, the possible cause of the incident was that one of the victims, Keyla, placed the battery to charge under the bed where she slept with her younger brother.
These tragedies highlight the need to raise awareness about the responsible use of lithium batteries and the importance of using certified equipment. The video sent to Vallejo aims precisely to alert people to the risks and prevent more Cuban families from experiencing similar losses.
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