The ongoing housing crisis in Cuba has once again raised alarms. This time, a scare unfolded at a 13-story building in the Peñas Altas neighborhood of Matanzas. Concrete fragments broke away, endangering the lives of those passing by.
A local incident was shared on Facebook by the profile La Tijera. A resident recounted how, upon arriving with his children to visit his parents, a concrete block suddenly fell, narrowly missing his youngest son. The impact tore the child's clothing, leaving him with a minor scratch, but the outcome could have been far more tragic.
The affected area is part of a well-known housing complex in the city, popularly referred to as "the Polynesian building" or "the one with the Cuban flag." According to the shared account, the building is in severe structural decline, with visibly damaged panels, dilapidated stairways, persistent foul odors, and a complete lack of maintenance, lighting, and elevators.
Living in Danger Amid Inhumane Conditions
Beyond the risk of falling debris, residents endure deplorable living conditions: broken stairs, piled-up garbage, constant stench, and pitch-black hallways. Climbing to upper floors is a hazardous task, particularly for the elderly or those with mobility issues.
Neighbors have warned that at least three other buildings in the vicinity are in similar states of disrepair. Improvised modifications—such as air conditioner installations, slab perforations, or structural overloads—exacerbate the buildings' vulnerabilities.
Housing Crisis Deepens Across Cuba
This incident adds to the growing list of partial or total building collapses that have claimed lives across the island in recent years. Official statistics reveal that over 37% of the nation's housing stock is in "poor or deteriorating" condition. The lack of investment, maintenance, and effective policies has turned the right to safe housing into a suppressed national emergency.
The situation in Peñas Altas exemplifies the structural neglect, where citizens must worry not only about power outages or food shortages but also about their roofs potentially collapsing.
Just last Friday, a story emerged of a young Cuban whose home partially collapsed more than four years ago in Havana. He continues to live among the rubble with his mother due to a lack of housing alternatives. Such cases are all too common across an island stuck in time.
While the regime prioritizes parades and international propaganda, Cuba's buildings crumble, affecting the daily lives of its people. The incident in Matanzas wasn't a tragedy this time... by sheer luck. But time is running out.
Addressing the Structural Neglect in Cuban Housing
What are the main causes of the housing crisis in Cuba?
The primary causes include inadequate investment, poor maintenance, and ineffective policies that have led to a significant portion of the housing stock being in poor condition.
How are residents affected by building neglect in Cuba?
Residents face hazardous living conditions, including the risk of structural failures, poor sanitation, and lack of basic amenities like lighting and elevators, creating a daily struggle for safety and comfort.
What steps can be taken to improve housing conditions in Cuba?
Improvements require investment in infrastructure, regular maintenance, and the implementation of effective policies to ensure safe and habitable living conditions for all residents.