An explosion at the Cuatro Caminos market in Havana caused alarm this Saturday afternoon, although no casualties were reported.
The incident, which occurred around 1:00 p.m., was reportedly caused by the explosion of an underground transformer that lifted part of the floor at the market entrance, with no signs of fire in the area.
Following the explosion, there was a significant mobilization of firefighters and police officers. Despite the presence of authorities, the government of Havana has yet to release any official information or clarifications about the incident on its social media.
The Cuatro Caminos Market, which was reopened in November 2019 with substantial official promotion, is one of the most important shopping centers in the country. However, lack of maintenance and the obsolescence of its infrastructure—a common situation on the island—could be behind this incident.
On the day of its reopening in 2019, it had to close its doors to the public due to the chaos caused by the massive influx of Cubans and reopened in January 2020 after alleged repairs and maintenance work.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it experienced several closures due to outbreaks among its workers. It no longer has the usual supply of goods it used to have, but it remains a hub of significant foot traffic due to its excellent location.
This is one of the reasons why so many people felt concerned upon hearing that an explosion occurred on Saturday at the Cuatro Caminos Market in Havana. So far, authorities have not reported any serious human or material damages at the site.
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