"Ghost Town Vibes: Havana's Plaza Vieja at Night Sparks Online Buzz"

A TikTok video posted by user @kennyrossellboxxx has sparked widespread reactions by showcasing Havana's Plaza Vieja looking almost deserted around nine in the evening.

In the footage, the creator walks through the area, expressing his disbelief at the scene. “Folks, look at this, it's unbelievable, a place that would have been bustling with people at this time on a day like February 13th, just waiting for Valentine's Day,” he remarks at the beginning of the video.

He continues, “Look at the time, it's around nine at night, and it's eerily empty, not a soul in sight, it resembles a ghost town, truly astonishing, you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it.”

The visuals depict an environment with sparse human presence and little activity in the plaza, a site traditionally bustling with locals and tourists.

The video prompted numerous comments from users who shared similar sentiments or interpretations of the situation. “Because of the dictatorship,” one user wrote. Another added, “It's truly sad...Greetings from Holguin.” Comments like “Cuba is in a deep coma. Yet, there's time to revive it,” “Speechless,” and “I just got back and it was empty” were also visible.

Several messages hinted at a sense of anticipation: “People are hiding, waiting for what's to come” and “Soon.” Others conveyed discouragement, stating, “How sad, but soon we'll be happy.”

Recently, various videos have circulated on social media showing Havana's streets with minimal traffic and scarce vehicle presence. Notably, a case involving the state-affiliated journalist known as “El Necio” emerged, where he claimed that in Cuba "people are not sad" while showing a nearly deserted capital, as reported in a recent coverage of that video.

Similarly, another viral video displayed the Malecón with barely any cars, a detail many users linked to the fuel crisis, as described in coverage of a Spanish tourist sharing footage from a seaside hotel.

Images released by the EFE agency also depicted avenues with reduced nighttime activity and dimmed streetlights, amidst transportation and fuel supply constraints, as noted in a report about unlit streets and little traffic in the capital.

A similar account later appeared on Facebook, where another user captured a nighttime drive down Monte Street from inside a car. The video reveals nearly deserted stretches, few pedestrians, and sparse vehicle movement. The footage shows dilapidated facades, shadowy arcades, and piles of garbage on some corners, reinforcing the sense of neglect that several netizens have highlighted when documenting the area's nightlife in Havana.

The stark contrast between once-bustling spaces and now almost empty scenes has reignited discussions on digital platforms about daily life in the capital. While some users interpret these images as a direct reflection of the current economic situation, others suggest they might be due to specific circumstances or similar to what occurs in certain areas of other cities.

The video's creator frames his surprise in the context of the date, noting that on a “day like February 13th, waiting for the 14th,” the place would have been “packed with people.” However, this time, according to his account, the scene was different: “there’s no one on the street” and “not even a fly is moving.”

The video continues to garner views and comments, as more residents document and share images of their everyday surroundings on social media.