On Friday night, three residential façades on Horca Street, located between Carmen and Callejón del Perro in Camagüey city, collapsed, as confirmed by Camagüey Television.
Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries reported. As a precautionary measure, authorities evacuated an elderly bedridden resident from the affected area at the time of the incident.
Initial assessments by experts indicate that the collapse resulted from structural moisture accumulation within the buildings, worsened by recent heavy rains impacting the city.
Demolition and debris removal teams are currently on-site, alongside crews from the Office of Electric Services (OBE) and ETECSA, working to restore disrupted services.
Efforts to clean and stabilize the area are set to continue in the coming hours.
Journalist José Luis Tan Estrada noted that the partial collapse primarily impacted two houses, one of which was occupied by a mother and her daughter. Neighbors reported that both managed to escape safely before the front part of their home crumbled.
This incident occurs amid the looming threat of Tropical Storm Melissa, which could escalate to hurricane status and bring intensified rainfall to Cuba in the hours ahead.
The situation highlights the growing concern over the critical condition of Camagüey's housing stock, where hundreds of homes suffer from accumulated structural damage due to ongoing neglect and a lack of labor and construction materials.
FAQs on the Camagüey Housing Collapse
What caused the housing collapse in Camagüey?
The collapse was caused by structural moisture accumulation, worsened by heavy rains in the area.
Were there any injuries reported from the incident?
No injuries or casualties were reported following the collapse.
Who was evacuated due to the collapse?
An elderly bedridden resident was evacuated as a precautionary measure.