A gas leak has been spewing in the Príncipe Street, located between Vigía and Romay in Havana's Atarés neighborhood, for over four months, with no action taken by officials to address the issue. This alarming situation was captured in a video shared on the social media platform X this past Saturday.
The footage from the scene paints a grim picture. "As you can see, this is gas, and we've been dealing with this for more than four months with no response. The sanitation department from the army was here yesterday, and a general made a call, but still, no one has done anything," the video, posted by user Yanko Mesa, reveals.
The individual documenting the leak warns of the "imminent danger" it poses, especially in a neighborhood where children and the elderly reside. They urge others to share the video to prevent a potential disaster.
According to the account, members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces’ sanitation team and a general visited the site, with the general attempting to prompt a response via phone, albeit unsuccessfully.
"They cleaned the entire street, and the general made calls to the relevant entities, but no one came, and his concerns were ignored. This indicates that it doesn’t matter, and whatever happens, happens," the whistleblower stressed.
Moreover, they pointed out the irony of gas being wasted for months through a damaged pipe while Cuba faces a severe shortage of this resource.
The timing of this leak couldn't be worse. The informal fuel market in Cuba has skyrocketed, with domestic gas cylinders being sold for as high as 50,000 Cuban pesos on the black market.
Earlier this year, the government halted the distribution of liquefied gas in the eastern region due to supply shortages.
Persistent Infrastructure Failures
This incident is not an isolated one. Cuba's gas infrastructure has been deteriorating for decades. In November 2025, a malfunction left the municipalities of Old Havana, Central Havana, Cerro, 10 de Octubre, and Plaza de la Revolución without manufactured gas.
In May of the same year, a pipeline rupture affected two Havana municipalities. And in 2022, residents of Marianao reported a hazardous leak in the street, following a familiar pattern: public complaints, institutional inaction, and continued risk to the public.
Promises vs. Reality
The government has attempted to frame the expansion of so-called "street gas" as a solution to the crisis. In March, officials announced an ambitious goal of connecting 25,000 new customers by year's end. However, by the end of that month, only 735 homes had been connected, highlighting the gap between official rhetoric and reality.
In the meantime, gas continues to escape from a broken pipe in Atarés, and residents are hopeful that someone will intervene before negligence leads to a catastrophe.
Understanding the Gas Crisis in Cuba
What caused the gas leak in Atarés, Havana?
The gas leak in Atarés is the result of a damaged pipe that has been leaking for over four months without repair or intervention from authorities.
Why is the gas leak in Havana particularly dangerous?
The leak poses an imminent danger due to the presence of children and elderly residents in the area and the potential for an explosive incident if the gas ignites.
How has the Cuban government responded to gas infrastructure issues?
While the government has announced plans to expand "street gas" connections, progress has been slow, with only a small fraction of the target number of homes connected, reflecting a disconnect between promises and action.