A fire occurred on Tuesday night in a building in the Bahía district of East Havana while residents were cooking with firewood during a power outage, as reported on Facebook by activist Lara Crofs.
The incident occurred around 7:00 PM in an apartment located on the third floor of building 19, on 13th Street.
According to the report, the fire started amid a power outage, when the occupants of the property turned to firewood as an alternative to cook food in the absence of electricity.
The firefighters quickly arrived at the scene, despite the difficulties caused by the darkness, and worked until they controlled the flames and prevented the fire from spreading to other houses.
As of the time of the report, no individuals were reported injured, although there was material damage to the affected home.
Beyond the specific event, the incident once again highlights the context in which such emergencies occur.
The combination of prolonged blackouts, homes that are not equipped for the use of improvised fuels, and the lack of safe cooking options creates a high-risk scenario for thousands of families in the capital and throughout the country.
In many households, the constant interruption of electrical service forces people to resort to rudimentary and hazardous methods to meet basic needs such as food.
The fire in building 19 of the Bahía neighborhood adds to a series of similar incidents that have arisen amid the energy crisis in Cuba, where power outages last for hours and, at times, entire days.
These episodes reflect a reality in which the population is forced to adapt as best they can, even when that means exposing themselves to avoidable domestic accidents under normal conditions.
Although there were no casualties in this case, the incident serves as a warning about the everyday risks many families face and the urgent need for structural solutions to prevent the lack of electricity from continuing to lead to fires, material losses, and potential human tragedies.
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