A fire broke out this past Saturday at the intersection of Merced and Egido streets in Old Havana, as shown by images and comments shared on the Facebook page of Havana's Electric Company.
The photos reveal a thick column of black smoke rising above buildings, with at least one fire engine on the scene while civilians, including children, watched from the street.
Although an official cause has yet to be confirmed, residents commenting on the post were quick to blame the sudden reconnections of the electrical power supply.
However, one commenter clarified that the fire did not involve a household electrical installation: "This is a Telecommunications registry," they wrote, identifying the source of the blaze as the underground infrastructure in the historic center.
Warnings about the dangers of such practices in this area are not new. "For that reason, power should not be turned on and off here, but apparently those in charge are unaware," another commenter remarked, highlighting the vulnerability of underground cables and registries to electrical fluctuations.
Several locals voiced concerns over the proximity of gas pipelines beneath the streets. "Now imagine this underground with gas. We'd explode like a bomb, no one would survive. But nobody cares; we live worse than animals," a resident expressed.
Another was more direct: "They don't care about the people because they know what turning the power on and off means underground. What if something explodes below? What about the neighboring houses? And the thousands of people passing through daily?"
No casualties were reported in the available comments, nor is there any official confirmation of injuries or damage to heritage properties.
This incident is part of a series of failures linked to the deteriorating underground infrastructure of Old Havana. Since July 2026, the Electric Company has repeatedly disconnected the underground area due to national generation emergencies, with a deficit exceeding 2,100 MW. Residents have been complaining for months that the power outages are causing irreversible damage to the underground systems.
The historical background is concerning: a burned electrical registry at Lamparilla and Villegas, an underground fire at Zanja and Belascoaín that melted the pavement, and neighborhood protests on Villegas Street due to accumulated failures in basic services.
The blackout map for Old Havana shows repeated power cuts across multiple underground circuits in the area during August 2026.
The affected area is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center, whose restoration was championed for decades by historian Eusebio Leal, who passed away in 2020.
Understanding the Impact of Electrical Fluctuations in Old Havana
What caused the fire in Old Havana?
While the official cause hasn't been confirmed, residents suspect abrupt power reconnections are to blame, although it was noted that the fire originated from a Telecommunications registry.
Why is the underground infrastructure in Old Havana deteriorating?
The deterioration is attributed to repeated power outages and reconnections, which have been causing irreversible damage to the underground infrastructure.
What are the risks associated with underground fires in Old Havana?
Underground fires pose significant risks, especially with gas pipelines nearby, raising concerns about potential explosions and threats to public safety.