A fire destroyed at least three houses on Pedro A. Pérez Street between 1 and 2 Norte, across from the railroad, in the province of Guantánamo, on the night of April 11, while the area was experiencing a complete blackout.
The Telecentro Solvisión confirmed the incident following reports on social media from various users.
Within minutes, videos and images of the fire started to circulate on Facebook and TikTok, where neighbors and people with family in the area described the scale of the disaster in real time.
"Fatal fire during the night in Pedro A. Pérez / 1 and 2 north. Guantánamo Province. Completely dark, but nothing is left of this house. Very sad," wrote Mailyn Rosales Limonta on Facebook.
The account identified as Sonicarpa Srl reported that the news hit close to home: "At this moment, I am receiving the bad news in my hometown, on the same block where I used to live. My mother is there, and neighbors are losing their homes amid a blackout. The cause of the disaster is unknown, but the reality is that the destruction damaged several houses."
The firefighters arrived at the scene with a support tanker truck, but they faced a challenge that worsened the situation when they ran out of water to fight the fire.
"I was there watching everything; I can only say it was very frustrating to see everything burning and the firefighters running out of water to put out the fire," wrote an internet user in the comments.
Another witness confirmed the extent of the disaster: "Three houses were lost, a pity in front of the railway, it's already extinguished. What a pain."
Among those affected is the Martínez family. One user recognized her aunt's house among the ruins: "My God, it's my aunt's house."
The fire was finally contained, and no fatalities were reported. "Thank God everything was brought under control. The people are safe," confirmed Rosales Limonta.
The cause of the disaster is currently unknown, although the context is telling. Cuba is experiencing an unprecedented energy crisis, with electricity deficits ranging from 1,630 to 1,945 MW and blackouts affecting 55% of the national territory.
Prolonged power outages force families to rely on candles for light and improvised methods for cooking, while the sudden restoration of electricity can overheat connected appliances and cause short circuits.
The Guantánamo fire is not an isolated incident. On April 6, a fire destroyed a home in Santiago de Cuba, leaving five children homeless. On the same day, April 11, a fire at the Saturnino Lora Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, caused by a surge in electrical tension, forced the evacuation of 12 patients.
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