A military bus caught fire on Friday on the highway in Santiago de Cuba, causing alarm among passersby and nearby residents.
The incident was reported by the independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who shared a video and images of the disaster on his social media.
The vehicle, a Girón bus used by the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), was seen engulfed in flames on the highway. Subsequent images showed the interior of the bus completely burned.
At the time of writing this note, no injuries have been reported in the incident. Neither authorities nor state media are reporting on the event.
This event adds to a series of similar incidents that have occurred in recent months in Cuba, raising concerns about the state of transportation in the country.
Recent highlighted incidents:
- February 26, 2025: A bus transporting female inmates caught fire on Trocha Street in Santiago de Cuba, in front of the South Children's Hospital. Thanks to the quick response of local residents, the fire was brought under control before the firefighters arrived.
- February 7, 2025: A short circuit in the electrical system caused a bus fire in Havana. Fortunately, no casualties were reported thanks to the swift actions of the firefighters.
- February 6, 2025: A bus from the state-owned company Transtur, which was transporting 20 Czech tourists, caught fire near the viewpoint at Topes de Collantes in Sancti Spíritus. Although there were no casualties, the vehicle was completely burned and the tourists lost some of their luggage.
- January 15, 2025: A deadly accident in Camagüey involved a military bus transporting soldiers. The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) did not issue any statements regarding this, which led to criticism over the lack of transparency.
The recurrence of these incidents has raised alarms about the state of the vehicle fleet in Cuba. Experts point out that the aging of the fleet, lack of proper maintenance, and the use of low-quality fuels could be contributing factors.
Moreover, the lack of detailed official reports on the causes of these incidents hinders the implementation of effective preventive measures. Citizens are calling for greater transparency and concrete actions from the authorities to ensure safety in public and military transportation.
The implementation of preventive maintenance programs, the renewal of the fleet, and the ongoing training of drivers are essential steps to prevent future incidents and protect the lives of passengers.
Meanwhile, transportation users in Cuba continue to face uncertainty and risks in their daily commutes, hoping that effective measures will be taken to reverse this concerning trend.
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