On Thursday night, Havana residents were startled by loud explosions, as reported by numerous social media users. The sounds were first heard at 10:16 pm and reverberated through areas such as Old Havana, Centro Habana, Cerro, Diez de Octubre, San Miguel del Padrón, Playa, and Marianao.
"Does anyone know what's causing those cannon blasts near Old Havana?" asked Emanuel Duran in the Facebook group "Tiendas MLC Habana. What's happening?" Meanwhile, Jorge de Mello posted on his feed, "Loud explosions are echoing in Havana. Can anyone explain why?"
In a lighter vein, human rights activist Adelth Bonne Gamboa quipped, "Have the Americans arrived? Hope they bring food," as he shared a video clearly capturing the booming sounds.
According to comments on social media, these explosions were rehearsals for the cannon fire scheduled for December 31st to mark the anniversary of the revolution's triumph. Traditionally, a military ceremony takes place at midnight on that day, featuring 21 artillery salutes fired from the San Carlos de La Cabaña fortress.
Earlier on Thursday, the weekly publication Tribuna had announced that a practice session for this ceremony would occur, which would account for the loud detonations. However, extensive power outages have severely limited public access to official media information, leaving many residents unaware and understandably anxious about such events.
Understanding the Explosions in Havana
What caused the explosions heard in Havana?
The explosions were part of a rehearsal for a military ceremony involving cannon fire, planned for December 31st to commemorate the triumph of the Cuban revolution.
Why were residents unaware of the planned detonations?
Due to widespread power outages, access to official media information was severely limited, leaving many residents uninformed about the event.