A fire erupted on Tuesday in the La Aduana neighborhood of Holguín, reportedly sparked by an oil spill into a river. Locals in the area have indicated that the spill might have originated from the Turquino Vegetable Canning Company. However, the actual cause of the fierce flames and the thick smoke column visible in videos shared on social media has not been officially confirmed.
The footage reveals the anxiety and concern of nearby residents, who urgently called for the fire department's assistance. Yet, none of the shared videos show firefighters on the scene. One clip captures a group of locals warning a car owner to move their vehicle away from the encroaching flames for safety.
In another video, a resident commented on the foul odor that had been lingering since the previous day, presumably due to the spill. Recently, Cuba has experienced numerous fires. On the same day, firefighters were battling an intense blaze on the rooftop of a building in Centro Habana, the cause of which remains unknown. Additionally, on Monday night in Caibarién, Villa Clara, a psychiatric patient set a house on fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries, though one home was completely destroyed and another partially damaged.
A fourth incident, tragically resulting in a fatality, occurred Monday afternoon. A tanker truck carrying alcohol was involved in a traffic accident, igniting a fire. The truck's co-driver was killed, while the driver sustained injuries.
Key Questions About Recent Fires in Cuba
What caused the fire in Holguín?
The fire in Holguín was reportedly triggered by an oil spill into a river, possibly from the Turquino Vegetable Canning Company, though this has not been confirmed.
Were there any injuries in the recent fires in Cuba?
In the recent fires, there was one fatality, the co-driver of a tanker truck involved in an accident, and the driver was injured. No injuries were reported in the other incidents.
How have residents reacted to the fires?
Residents have expressed significant concern and urgency, as seen in social media videos where they call for firefighting assistance and warn others to protect their belongings.