The gradual collapse of a building at Belascoaín #105 in Central Havana has put dozens of families on edge, living under extreme danger. According to a report by the Facebook page La Tijera, the already deteriorating structure suffered a partial collapse in its access corridor just two days ago. Between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, further structural damage occurred with more sections falling apart.
Despite the severity of the threat, local residents have expressed frustration that no government officials have appeared to offer concrete solutions. One resident shared her ordeal: "We're still here today because last night my house and the one below collapsed completely, but even at this hour (6:00 pm), government officials have not arrived to address the situation. I will not leave until a solution is provided."
Official Indifference and Empty Promises
The incident was reported to both the Municipal Housing Directorate and the Administrative Council. However, the response from authorities has been the same as always: evasive answers, unfulfilled promises, and a deafening official silence that only heightens residents' desperation. Meanwhile, these families continue to live under a roof that threatens to collapse entirely at any moment.
The anxiety is twofold: they fear for their children's lives and the loss of the little they possess in a context where the housing crisis severely impacts the Cuban capital.
Outrageous Voices
The situation has sparked an outpouring of comments expressing public outrage. "Just another proof that the dictatorship couldn't care less about the people," noted one user. Another woman added, "And the empty hotels, at least put them in those: the Riviera, the Panorama... Havana is falling apart, it's horrible, destroyed, lifeless."
An emigrant sarcastically highlighted the disconnect between the authorities and reality: "While buildings in the capital collapse, the first lady visits galleries with the dictator in Vietnam." A Miami resident captured the general sentiment: "Every time it rains, there's a collapse, poor people."
A Recurring Pattern
This latest collapse comes less than a month after a partial collapse at the busy corner of San Rafael and Galiano, where a young Café Boulevard worker died after being trapped under the debris. On that occasion, firefighters and rescuers responded promptly, but residents complained that the building had been declared uninhabitable for years without effective measures being taken.
The causes in both cases are the same: century-old structures weakened by humidity and rain, overcrowded living quarters, and systematic neglect by the State. The government prioritizes investment in hotels and tourism projects while thousands of families endure life in crumbling conditions.
Havana's Decay
The image of Cuba's capital as a city "frozen in time" increasingly becomes a portrayal of deterioration. These collapses are not isolated incidents but part of a distressingly frequent pattern that silently claims lives. The housing crisis, one of the country's most severe issues, worsens due to lack of structural maintenance, scarcity of building materials, and the absence of political will to prioritize basic needs.
Meanwhile, families like those at Belascoaín #105 continue to live literally under the threat of being buried at any moment.
Understanding the Housing Crisis in Havana
What is causing the frequent building collapses in Havana?
The frequent building collapses in Havana are primarily due to century-old structures weakened by humidity, rain, overcrowding, and systematic neglect by the State, which prioritizes tourism investments over residential maintenance.
How has the government responded to the housing crisis in Cuba?
The government's response to the housing crisis in Cuba has largely been characterized by evasive answers, unfulfilled promises, and a lack of effective measures to address the urgent needs of affected families, focusing instead on tourism-related developments.