A fire of significant proportions occurred this morning, in the middle of a blackout, practically reduced to ashes the state restaurant Rancho Villa in the municipality of Rafael Freyre, Holguín province.
A source in neighboring Gibara, where the International Film Festival is currently being held, despite the crisis the country is going through, told CyberCuba that the fire was intentional, in protest at the constant and prolonged power cuts.
“They say that it is already terrible with the blackouts. As we here in Gibara do not take away the current, because of the festival, they are taking away from them in Freyre the one that touches them the most from Gibara”assured.
The source said he had references to other protests of lesser impact that occurred in the area of the incident for which “Every day Freyre woke up with posters and the occasional stone thrown, but it was for fun”, he said in reference to the little attention paid by local authorities to popular discontent. However, he added, “Already last night around one o’clock in the morning they set fire to that government ranchón”.
The news was confirmed by the local authorities from the Facebook profile of the Popular Assembly of People’s Power of the municipality, who repudiated the fact.
“The acts of violence are not the solution to the problems, acts like these leave much to be desired of the people who execute them and the people of Freyrense, are a people of peace, of love, they are supportive, respectful, educated, fraternal, hard-working”reads the official note.
The publication recognizes the “rapid action” of the community that “allowed to protect the basic means and resources of the State of the Rancho Villa unit” and anticipates that the recovery work of the establishment has begun. “The people of Rafael Freyre energetically repudiate this fact. We are from Homeland or Death. Overcome!”warns the note.
On social networks, several users had reported the event while it was happening and one of them said he was present while the flames devoured the State facility.
On social networks, several users reported the event in real time and one of them said he was present while the flames devoured the tourist facility.
“My municipality of Freyre, in Holguín, got hot. This is not a story because right now I am in the fire my people “Dagnier Cabaco Calzadilla said on Facebook. The local accompanied his publication with a photo of the fire taken up close when it seemed that the fire on the wood and guano was extinguished in the premises. In another post, he posted a video.
“Now. Fire in the ranchón at the entrance of our neighboring municipality Rafael Freyre, Holguín”, announced Internet user Rolando Guerra Machín on Twitter who regretted what happened and said he did not know the causes.
His publication, dated this Friday at 4:07 in the morning, local time, shows two photographs in which the tourist facility is seen on fire at night.
On the same social network, the tweeter El Ingeniero also shared the news, as well as a video and details of the fire in the Ranchón, some sources say that it was caused, something that I cannot confirm so far.
Other users such as José Elier Mejías Martínez and the influencer Alain Rodríguez (Cuban Paparazzi) also echoed the fact and promised more information in the coming hours. “Last minute. Users on social networks report a fire in the Ranchón at the entrance of our neighboring Rafael Freyre municipality, we seek more information about this developing news,” said Mejías.
“Neighbors are commenting and speculating that they lit a candle in the middle of the blackout, according to reason they threw a bottle of fuel,” Rodríguez explained with a couple of sample videos.
Barely an hour ago, Internet user Ing. Rodric showed on Twitter what was left of the Ranchón after being devoured by fire; a sooty skeleton of which the pillars that support it are barely visible.
The facility had been remodeled in 2021, as part of a local plan for constructive revival after the anti-government protests of the 11J which included the La Sombrilla restaurant and the ETECSA commercial office.
Until the time of writing this note, the state press had not reported on the event.