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A new tragedy strikes Pinar del Río amidst the prolonged blackouts that keep the country in a spiral of risk and daily exhaustion.
A couple identified as Carmelo and Niurka was found dead inside their home on Alameda Street, between Secondary School 1200 and the store Los Padrinos, after turning on a generator to cope with the power outage.
The information was shared on Facebook by the page "Nio reporting a crime," which received testimony from a neighbor under anonymity.
According to the account, the couple was celebrating Carmelo's return to work as a taxi driver, but the festivities were interrupted on Tuesday night when the electricity went out again.
In the face of darkness, they turned on a generator, a practice that has become common in the country due to power outages lasting over 20 hours, but which exposes families to a deadly danger.
Having received no news from them the following day, Carmelo's brother and a neighbor were forced to break down the door around 9:00 am on Wednesday. They found them on the bed, showing no signs of life.
Initial impressions suggest a possible asphyxiation due to inhalation of generator gases, although official confirmation is pending from forensic authorities.
A community shattered by an avoidable tragedy
The neighborhood remains in shock. Neighbors and friends expressed their sorrow over the deaths of Carmelo and Niurka, and several close individuals confirmed the accuracy of the events
"I mourn that great loss for my friend Yaquelin and for her sister who has passed away, as we were friends," wrote a woman.
The comments on the post paint a picture of fear, precariousness, and resignation, where power generators—turned into the only means for cooking, sleeping with ventilation, or preserving food—serve as both a solution and a threat.
A user alerted about her neighbor's behavior: "She has a very loud device that isn't connected, and she thinks it will harm me if she turns it on… but it also puts her life and her child's life at risk."
Another testimony recalled a case in Guanabacoa, where a couple was found unconscious due to poisoning and barely survived. "The plant cannot be placed indoors because of the gases," he emphasized.
Tragedies repeat painfully: "Just yesterday marked three months since it happened to my neighbors as well. Niurka, Yoandry, and their little boy Pedritín, who is only 6 years old," said another internet user.
Several users point out that families place the generators inside their homes to prevent theft.
That deadly contradiction has become the portrait of a country where constant blackouts force people to choose between losing their equipment or risking their lives.
"People know that those plants shouldn't be left inside, but they can't put them outside either because they'll get stolen... They're cornered," one person said.
"If it weren't for the harsh blackouts, no one would be exposed to this kind of death. The government is killing the people one way or another," wrote another, reflecting the widespread outrage.
Even those who do not have generators suffer: "My neighbors put theirs right next to my house, and it doesn't harm them, but it does harm me. That smell is very strong, I am asthmatic and I can't sleep because of the gas that makes me feel unwell," reported another affected individual.
The deaths of Carmelo and Niurka once again highlight how the energy crisis drives the population to desperate measures that lead to recurring tragedies, as blackouts continue to disrupt life in the country.
Other recent deaths
In August of last year, a 30-year-old Cuban and his two-year-old daughter tragically passed away in the municipality of Amancio Rodríguez, Las Tunas, due to a gas leak from a power plant.
According to local authorities, the 31-year-old mother of the minor was found alive but struggling to breathe and experiencing chest pain.
The tragic incident occurred in a house located on 20th Anniversary Street, in the Camblor area, which is part of the No. 58 district of the La Carretera popular council.
The information detailed that the man's body was found in the bathroom of the house, and the two-year-old girl was found in bed, in her mother's arms.
The official source specified that the unfortunate accident occurred "due to the escape of carbon monoxide from a 1200-watt electric generator, brand Saco, owned by the family and which was generating electricity at night inside the home."
Days later, a report from the official Periódico 26 in the province of Tunera warned of the dangers of improper handling of home generators.
The newspaper noted that the incident was not an isolated case, but it did not explain that the consumption of these plants has increased in the country due to the energy crisis, which leaves families with several hours of blackouts every day.
Important warning
A combustion power plant (diesel or gasoline) should never be turned on inside a home or enclosed space.
These devices emit carbon monoxide (CO), a highly toxic, colorless, and odorless gas that can cause asphyxiation in just a few minutes.
The generator should be placed outdoors, in a well-ventilated area away from doors and windows, to prevent the accumulation of deadly gases.
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