Yemenis resort to dangerous energy alternatives amid economic crisis, leading to deaths and injuries

Last week in the city of Taiz, Yemen, a lithium battery used for a solar power system exploded, setting a house on fire. A mother and two children died, the father is in intensive care, and a third child was discharged. Dr. Mohammed Saeed, head of the burns centre at Al-Thawra Hospital, told Al Jazeera that such incidents are common. In the first six months of this year, the unit treated 2,729 cases, including 13 deaths, most caused by exploding solar batteries, vehicles converted to cooking gas, gas leaks, and petrol accidents.

Many Yemenis convert their vehicles to run on cooking gas to save money. A litre of petrol costs 1,500 Yemeni riyals (about $0.95), while a litre of cooking gas costs only 500 riyals ($0.30). Ammar Saleh, 40, a driver from Mawza'a district, suffered severe burns when a bystander lit a lighter while he was filling his car with cooking gas. His brother Mohammed said the fire engulfed Ammar's body, but he was rushed to a clinic and later transferred to hospital.

Malik Al-Sabri, manager of planning and information for Taiz police, said battery accidents account for 30–40 percent of house fires in the governorate. The police have banned unauthorised vehicle conversions and are enforcing strict safety conditions.

Electrical engineer Dawood Abdullah explained that solar energy itself is safe, but problems arise when families install systems themselves without specialists. Batteries placed in living areas or poorly ventilated spaces pose a high fire risk. He urged mandatory use of qualified installers.

Ramez Nabil, media officer for the Yemeni Green Media Center, called solar energy an "emergency salvation" but stressed the need for public awareness campaigns to ensure safe use. The dire economic situation forces people to buy low-quality materials and hire unqualified installers, increasing dangers.