A motorbike equipped with a sidecar was completely engulfed in flames during a fierce blaze that erupted this Monday in the heart of Santiago de Cuba. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The incident was captured in photos and videos by journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who documented the fire at the intersection of Hernán Cortés and Escario streets in this eastern Cuban city. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The fire temporarily halted traffic on the streets and was eventually extinguished by firefighters, leaving only the metal frame of the motorbike behind. "The real reasons behind the fire are still unknown," noted the Cuban journalist residing in the United States, expressing gratitude for the community's assistance in reporting the incident.
Frequent Fires of Motorbikes in Cuba
Motorbike fires, particularly involving the popular "motorinas" used extensively by Cubans, have regrettably become a common occurrence in the country. In the first half of 2023 alone, more than 300 electric motorbikes caught fire—averaging 1.67 incidents per day—according to statistics from the National Fire Department. The same agency reported over 3,000 fires extinguished by firefighters from 2019 to mid-last year.
These motorbike fires have left a tragic trail of death and mourning among numerous Cuban families. Mid-year, a family consisting of a couple and their nine-year-old son perished in a blaze triggered by the explosion of a motorina's lithium battery inside their home, while their older daughters sustained severe injuries. Just days earlier, another family lost their lives in a similar fire in Playa, Havana.
In June 2023, a devastating incident claimed the lives of all seven members of a family, including two children, residing in Centro Habana. The fire erupted after several electric scooters exploded, resulting in a fierce blaze that engulfed their home.