An early morning incident saw a section of the fourth-floor ceiling of a building at 368 Águila, corner of San Miguel, in Central Havana collapse at approximately 6:10 AM, as reported by the independent outlet 14ymedio.
While no one was injured, the incident has caused significant alarm among the building’s more than 300 residents.
The collapse created a gaping hole in the top floor's ceiling, allowing an unobstructed view of the sky from inside.
Fragments of concrete, dust, and debris now litter the ground and rest alongside the metal stair railing. The building's exposed and rusted reinforcing bars are adjacent to large patches of moisture.
Juan Goberna, who leads the Cuban Network for Persons with Disabilities and resides on the second floor, witnessed the collapse firsthand.
“I was already awake when I heard the crash, and the entire building shook," he told the independent media outlet. "A neighbor began shouting, and people jumped out of bed to see what had happened. It wasn't until dawn that we could fully grasp the severity. To make matters worse, it's been raining since early morning, and water has been pouring through the opening.”
The rain has exacerbated the situation, seeping through the newly formed gap. Goberna noted that "some neighbors are now outside, refusing to enter the building out of fear of further structural failure," with the fourth floor bearing the brunt of the damage, though the debris also impacted the third floor's ceiling.
The activist mentioned that this marks the first partial collapse for the building, although there have been minor ceiling failures on the top floor before.
A previous attempt to reinforce the structure with wooden beams failed due to a lack of fuel for the truck needed to transport the materials, highlighting how widespread shortages hinder even basic solutions.
"Thankfully, there were no casualties or injuries," Goberna stated to 14ymedio, though he warned that the building's deterioration and lack of repairs keep residents under constant threat of a full collapse.
Originally constructed in 1936 as a hotel and later converted into shared housing, the building is part of the Colón Popular Council, one of Central Havana's most densely populated areas.
The art déco façade now features windowless openings and areas darkened by moisture.
This collapse follows a tragic event ten days earlier in the Diez de Octubre municipality: two elderly residents died when their home's porch collapsed in Lawton, at the corner of 8th and San Francisco.
In that situation, residents had repeatedly warned authorities, but their pleas went unanswered.
September was a particularly challenging month for the capital. Torrential rains — over 300 mm in some areas within 24 hours — resulted in at least 26 completely collapsed homes and 122 with partial collapses, displacing 148 people to state shelters and prompting 762 to seek refuge with family.
Havana's structural decay has deep roots: official data indicates that approximately 1,000 buildings collapse annually in the capital, and as of late 2025, there were 185,348 buildings in poor condition.
The national housing deficit exceeds 929,000 homes, with the state construction plan achieving only 22% of its goal in 2025, completing just 2,382 of the 10,795 planned units.
Many families remain in buildings deemed uninhabitable because they have nowhere else to go, and state shelters fail to provide a viable solution.
Understanding the Structural Challenges in Havana
What led to the partial collapse in Central Havana?
The partial collapse was caused by the failure of a section of the fourth-floor ceiling, exacerbated by structural decay and recent heavy rains.
How have residents been impacted by the building's condition?
Residents are living in fear of further collapse, with some refusing to enter the building. The situation is worsened by ongoing rain and lack of effective governmental response.
What broader issues does this collapse highlight?
The collapse highlights Havana's widespread structural deterioration, exacerbated by government neglect and resource shortages, affecting thousands of buildings and residents.