Gasoline Motorcycle Erupts in Flames on Busy Santiago de Cuba Avenue

A gasoline-powered Jawa motorcycle caught fire near the 18-story buildings on Garzón Avenue in Santiago de Cuba. A video shared on social media by journalist Yosmany Mayeta captured the dramatic scene as the bike burned while dozens of onlookers and drivers watched until the flames were extinguished with a fire extinguisher. This was considered fortunate, as such tools can be hard to come by in these situations.

In the comments section, several internet users remarked on the unusual rise in incidents involving gasoline motorcycles catching fire in Santiago de Cuba. They shared various theories about the possible causes.

"It's all very strange! Just a week or two ago, another motorcycle caught fire near this area, just a block away. And these aren't electric bikes. Clearly, electricians are botching the installations," one user speculated.

Another commenter suggested, "It could be poor electrical work, or maybe they're adding something else to the gasoline." However, someone else countered, "Gasoline doesn't cause that. If the gasoline is bad, it affects the carburetion, not the motor's electrical system."

One person theorized that the issue might stem from using 12V lithium batteries, noting that this was the case with the previous motorcycle that caught fire.

Others pointed out the broader issue that in Cuba, there is a tendency to expect everything to last forever, which is unrealistic. "Every piece of equipment has a lifespan. We Cubans are used to neglecting necessary repairs and certainly don't limit usage when things are past their prime," another individual concluded.

Just over two weeks ago, another motorcycle fire occurred on Garzón Avenue in Santiago de Cuba. In that instance, neighbors and other drivers also helped extinguish the blaze.