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A fire reported this Thursday, March 5, in a boarding house in Santiago de Cuba, on San Germán Street #203, between Rastro and Corona, left several families without belongings, according to testimonies shared on social media by neighbors and relatives of those affected.
The news of the incident, reported by the independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta, immediately generated comments from residents and individuals connected to the families who suffered damages, who described the significant extent of the material losses caused by the fire. So far, there have been no reports of harm to the physical well-being of people in the tragic event.
Several users expressed concern for the situation of the victims amid the current resource shortage in the country. One internet user stated that it is "a very painful and sad situation [...] today when there is nothing," and added that many of the families in the area had lost all their belongings.
According to the images released by Mayeta, Command No. 4 of the Fire Department of the province provided service at the site to extinguish the flames.
Other testimonies among the forum users who commented on the explosion in the boarding house indicate that some victims were left with only the clothes they were wearing. One user stated that her family “was left with only what they were wearing, no shoes, no books, nothing,” and described the situation as “very sad.”
The shared messages also include calls for solidarity to help those affected. A forum member asked the community to come together to contribute what they can in order to "ease the situation for those who have lost everything."
Among the published reactions, there were also speculations about the possible causes of the fire. Some users suggested that the incident might be related to the precarious conditions for cooking the few available foods, amidst the shortages of fuel and other household resources that Cuba is experiencing. One internet user stated that the affected individuals were likely "trying to cook under unsuitable conditions with charcoal or wood."
Other opinions reflect concerns about the risk of fires amid the crisis of basic supplies. One user sarcastically commented on the situation: “Thank goodness there's no gas, no gasoline, no matches, no electricity, and no water,” while another stated that “with this cooking with whatever’s available, Santiago will be in flames.”
More than 15 hours after the incident was reported, official media outlets in the province and government institutions had no publications about it on their digital front pages.
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