An unsettling incident unfolded on Thursday evening in the city of Artemisa as a two-story home collapsed, fortunately leaving no fatalities but resulting in significant property damage, according to local sources. The collapse occurred around 8:00 p.m. on September 5th, at a property located on 56th Street, between 29 and 31, in the provincial capital of Artemisa.
Eyewitnesses reported that the second floor of the structure fell onto the garage, which functioned as the ground level. “The entire two-story residence crumbled, leaving only the second floor visible, without harming the owners,” stated Yansel López Muñoz, the deputy head of the Red Cross Operations Group in the province, to El Artemiseño.
Emergency responders, including the Fire Department, Medical Emergency Integrated System (SIUM), Red Cross personnel, and Municipal Administration Council representatives, swiftly arrived at the scene. Although no injuries were reported, witnesses mentioned that a regular resident of the building was nearby when the collapse happened. It remains unconfirmed whether this individual was inside the home during the incident.
A car parked in the garage, constituting the ground floor, was completely buried under the debris. Authorities have advised affected neighbors on the protocol to follow due to the structural risks in the area, pending a technical evaluation by the municipal Architecture Guard.
This event highlights the precarious state of housing in Cuba, particularly in urban areas where many homes are constructed without the necessary technical assessments to ensure their safety.
Recent Structural Failures in Artemisa
The collapse of this two-story home in Artemisa is not an isolated occurrence but part of a troubling trend that underscores the deteriorating housing conditions in this western Cuban province. In November 2024, during Hurricane Rafael’s sweep, an industrial air conditioning unit from the Juárez cinema was torn away by strong winds and crashed onto a nearby house, completely destroying its roof.
The homeowner publicly criticized the authorities for their delayed response and the slow arrival of a crane to remove the debris. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident either. The Category 3 hurricane struck Artemisa with winds reaching up to 115 mph, leaving a trail of destruction: roofs torn off, homes obliterated, crops ruined, and thousands displaced in municipalities such as Alquízar and Güira de Melena.
Many families were left without homes, surviving only due to last-minute evacuations. The provincial hospital sustained damage, and a baseball stadium’s lighting tower collapsed. Beyond weather phenomena, collapses due to lack of maintenance are also frequent in Artemisa. In September 2022, the stairs of a multifamily building in Mariel fell after numerous ignored complaints to the authorities.
Earlier that year, a severe local storm in Candelaria led to the collapse of 20 homes, both partial and total, impacting over 50 individuals. These incidents, along with the most recent collapse in the provincial capital, reflect a prolonged structural crisis exacerbated by institutional neglect and a shortage of resources to maintain, repair, or reinforce at-risk buildings.
Insights on Housing Crises in Cuba
What caused the recent building collapse in Artemisa?
The collapse was due to the structural failure of the second floor, which fell onto the garage serving as the ground floor, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
How have natural disasters impacted the housing situation in Artemisa?
Natural disasters, like Hurricane Rafael, have exacerbated the housing crisis in Artemisa by causing significant damage to structures, leaving many without homes and highlighting the vulnerability of buildings.
What are the ongoing challenges faced by residents in terms of housing safety in Artemisa?
Residents face challenges such as neglected maintenance, a lack of technical safety assessments, and insufficient resources to address structural risks, leading to frequent building collapses.