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A major fire broke out this morning in a communal garage in the Manuelita neighborhood of Santa Clara, in the province of Villa Clara.
According to preliminary reports, the incident was apparently caused by a scooter that was at the scene, which led to a rapid spread of flames to other parked vehicles, including a Lada, a motorcycle, and two cars commonly referred to in Cuba as "almendrones."
The fire was successfully brought under control by the Santa Clara Fire Department, who acted swiftly and managed to prevent the loss of human life. Despite this, the blaze caused significant material damage, impacting several means of transportation, the extent of which is still being assessed.
According to information shared on Facebook by the official journalist Henry Omar Pérez, efforts are currently underway to determine the exact causes of the fire and establish a detailed assessment of the damages.
The incident highlights the risks associated with the use and storage of scooters in enclosed spaces. Although they have gained popularity in recent years due to their low energy consumption, these types of vehicles require proper maintenance and handling, particularly regarding their charging systems and batteries, to prevent accidents like the one that occurred.
Residents in the area expressed their concern about the speed at which the flames spread. This incident serves as an important lesson on the need for stricter safety measures in the storage facilities for electric vehicles, including regular technical inspections and the implementation of clear protocols to prevent fires.
A recurring problem in Cuba: fires from electric scooters
This incident is not an isolated event; rather, it adds to a series of fires caused by electric scooters in Cuba in recent months. The explosion or malfunction of lithium batteries used by these vehicles has led to multiple incidents resulting in property damage and even fatalities.
In September 2024, a fire caused by a motorbike in Havana destroyed a garage, resulting in significant economic losses.
That same month, a similar incident at a residence located on Picota Street 59, between Acosta and Jesús María, resulted in the death of a person in Old Havana.
In August, a similar incident in the municipality of Jovellanos, Matanzas, destroyed a house. The event occurred in the early morning, on Callejón de Guma between Mujica and San Gabriel.
More recently, in November 2024, another motorcycle caught fire in downtown Santiago de Cuba, affecting nearby vehicles.
A similar incident occurred in Las Tunas in December, where firefighters faced challenges in containing the flames due to the rapid combustion of the batteries.
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