Four Cubans die in a fire inside an illegal hostel in Moscow

Four Cuban citizens lost their lives early Tuesday morning in a fire that occurred at an illegal hostel operating within a house in the city of Balashikha, in the Moscow region, an incident that has triggered hours of anguish, silence, and uncertainty among their families in Cuba.

The incident occurred around 4:40 a.m. (local time) in a three-story building located in the Zvorkino neighborhood, about 15 kilometers east of the Russian capital. During the firefighting efforts, emergency services found the lifeless bodies of two men and two women, all of Cuban nationality, as confirmed by investigators cited by the agency EFE.

In addition to the fatalities, six other people were injured, including a 15-year-old minor who was hospitalized after suffering a suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.

The fire, which affected an area of about 35 square meters, originated on the second floor of the building and was brought under control after approximately an hour of work by the firefighters.

Initial investigations indicate that the fire broke out when residents lit fires for warmth due to the lack of heating, after the electricity supply had been cut off due to unpaid debts, during the harsh Russian winter.

Russian authorities believe that the shelter was operating illegally, as it was not registered and the tenants did not have lease contracts. The property owner, according to official sources, resides in London.

While in Russia investigations are progressing to clarify how the victims ended up at the site and under what conditions they were there, in Cuba the drama is felt with bated breath.

Independent communicator Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reported that among the deceased, at least three Cubans from Ciego de Ávila are identified. They are Yadisley de Arma Aguilera, Aris Gonzales, and Liaro Arpajón Otaño. The identity of a fourth person has not yet been officially confirmed.

The lack of clear information has plunged families into a desperate wait. “Just imagine… shattered, broken, with no strength. I feel like I’m going crazy. I just ask God that it’s not true,” said Idania Otaño, the mother of one of the young people involved in the case, in statements collected by Mayeta Labrada from Cuba.

So far, there is no definitive documented confirmation of all the identities of the deceased, which prolongs the anguish of the relatives, who report a lack of direct communication from the authorities.

The Russian Instruction Committee has opened a criminal investigation to determine responsibilities and clarify the exact circumstances of the fire.