A fire consumed part of the warehouse known as La Deportiva, in the municipality of Manicaragua, Villa Clara province, according to a report published on Facebook.
The neighborhood, according to the user Héctor Tol Etón (pseudonym), was left in shock, and the residents gathered around the site to watch as the flames spread through the facility.
According to residents' testimonies, there was no cell signal coverage to call the fire department directly, so it was necessary to go to the police to have them communicate via radio with the emergency services.
The firefighters arrived at the scene, but they did not have enough water to extinguish the fire. "Despite the presence of firefighters, there was not enough water to put out the blaze, and there was no support from any nearby institution since water cycles extend for two months or more," the report noted.
Water scarcity is a structural problem in Cuba that directly affects the ability to respond to fires, leaving fire departments without the basic resource to combat flames in many areas of the country.
An official source cited in the report indicated that the fire was intentional and that its origin is under investigation.
The incident is not isolated. In February 2023, a warehouse in Marianao was allegedly set on fire to steal stored oil, and that same year there were similar cases reported at a warehouse in Centro Habana and in Holguín, which indicates a recurring pattern in state establishments distributing basic goods.
The fire occurs against a backdrop of rising social tension in Manicaragua. The report itself notes that the municipality "has shown an increase in nighttime incidents among gangs and acts of protest."
This pattern is consistent with the national landscape: Cubalex documented 275 protests in public spaces during the second half of 2025, with a notable increase in dissenting posters across the country.
Months ago, in August 2024, residents of Manicaragua had already reported favoritism and the retention of goods in a local store, following a provincial inspection that uncovered abusive pricing and the sale of spoiled products.
Six people were sentenced for protesting in the municipality in October 2024, with trials held approximately a year after their detention, according to Cubalex.
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