A small fire caused alarm this Saturday at noon on Nicolás Heredia Street, in the main municipality of Las Tunas, when an electric tricycle caught fire inside a house, causing significant material damage.
The incident quickly mobilized the Fire Department of Command 105, which responded to the scene and managed to extinguish the flames before they spread to nearby structures, according to reports from pro-government accounts on social media.
The images and videos shared on Facebook by Katy Báez and Claridad Tunera allowed viewers to grasp the scale of the event, which caused a thick column of black smoke and mobilized dozens of neighbors who witnessed the incident from the street and balconies.
The quick intervention of the firefighters was crucial in preventing further consequences. Two people were affected by smoke inhalation and were taken to the Dr. Ernesto Guevara Provincial Hospital, where they received medical attention, as confirmed by local media.
Photos taken after the incident reveal the extent of the damage: the tricycle was completely charred, reduced to its metal frame, and the furniture in the home shows severe damage. Damage to appliances such as refrigerators has also been reported.
Although no technical details have been provided regarding the exact cause of the fire, all indications point to a failure in the electric system of the tricycle, raising concerns once again about the safety of these increasingly common vehicles in the country.
The fact rekindles the debate over the regulation, technical review, and safe storage of these means of transportation within residences, especially in dense urban contexts.
In recent years, multiple similar incidents involving electric tricycles have been reported in Cuba. In December 2024, one caught fire in the middle of the road in Camagüey, and another case was reported in January 2022 in Pinar del Río, involving a nationally manufactured vehicle.
Despite the risks, authorities have increased the supply of these means of transportation in several provinces as part of a strategy to alleviate the urban mobility crisis.
However, experts and citizens have cautioned about the urgent need to establish stricter regulations regarding their maintenance and loading conditions.
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