A fire devastated apartment number three in Building 4 of Reparto 26 de Julio in Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, on Saturday afternoon, leaving a family homeless and with significant material losses, as firefighters arrived when there was nothing left to save.
According to accounts from neighbors shared on social media, several people tried to contact emergency services from the very beginning, but the lack of phone signal in the area prevented timely notification.
"Now the firefighters have arrived. After the house is burned down. Due to a lack of communication. And it could have been avoided," a witness reported in a video published by the page "La voz de Sitiecito".
As the flames spread, the neighbors had to take matters into their own hands to try to control the fire and protect the families in the building.
The same video warns that there were gas cylinders on the third floor of the property, which posed an additional danger during the incident.
An additional detail that exacerbates the situation is that, according to one of the witnesses, this is the second time that this house has suffered a fire.
The released images show the completely charred interior: walls blackened by soot, debris, destroyed furniture, and burned household items. An elderly woman stands amidst the ruins of what was once her home, her expression one of despair.
The neighbors' outrage was directed squarely at ETECSA and the Electric Company of Villa Clara. Juana María Betharte Mazorra posted in that company's Facebook group: "This is what happens when your incompetence leaves an entire municipality without communication. Incompetents in Sagua la Grande."
The incident fits into a recurring pattern in Cuba. In May of this year, a fire in Santiago de Cuba generated the same complaints when firefighters did not respond, and residents had to face the flames on their own. In November 2025, neighbors in Havana reported that the gas company was not answering emergency calls and firefighters only arrived after a direct alert from a resident.
Sagua la Grande has also been facing a series of crises. In December 2025, more than 900 people were evacuated in that municipality due to flooding which also affected the Mártires del 9 de Abril Hospital. The prolonged blackouts experienced by the island further degrade ETECSA's telecommunications infrastructure, compromising the emergency response capability.
In the absence of the State, solidarity came from the diaspora. Alys Rodriguez, from Miami, launched a campaign on Facebook to collect clothing, food, household items, and financial assistance for the affected family. "Seeing these images breaks our hearts, but it also reminds us that when Cubans come together, we can work miracles," she wrote.
Filed under: