An elderly man passed away on Friday in the entranceway of a home in Santiago de Cuba, with his body remaining there for hours awaiting the arrival of the police and forensic services.
The incident took place at the intersection of Avenida Patria and Calle A, in front of Santa Cilia. Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reported the event on Facebook, sharing photographs provided by a source who wished to remain anonymous.
As of 1:04 PM, the body was still in place, covered, while authorities had yet to arrive to remove it. "They didn't let anyone approach," Mayeta described in his post.
An anonymous source suggested the elderly man might have suffered from hypoglycemia and had trouble collecting his pension, but these claims remain unverified. The identity of the deceased has not been confirmed, nor has any medical information been released to determine the cause of death.
Social media testimonies included a claim that the man had been at the location since early morning. Another unverified comment stated that the police cited a lack of fuel as the reason for their delay, and that the man suffered a heart attack while drinking coffee.
Several hours later, a funeral vehicle arrived to transport the body, as documented by Mayeta Labrada in a follow-up post.
The incident sparked outrage among Facebook users. "Elderly people are dying in the streets, it's heartbreaking, no one seems to care," commented one user. Another noted, "Cuba is dying before the eyes of the indifferent leaders of this country."
This event echoes previous occurrences in Santiago de Cuba. In August 2025, another elderly man died on the same Avenida Patria, with his body left in the street for hours.
Back in January, an elderly individual lay in the Sueño neighborhood without response from ambulances, police, or fire services; the Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIUM) stated that no units were available.
In September, an elderly man named Calixto Lescay was found dead on Prolongación de Calvario Street in the Veguita de Galo neighborhood.
The plight of retirees adds another layer to the situation. According to the National Office of Statistics and Information, Cuba has approximately 1,774,310 pensioners. The minimum pension is 4,000 pesos per month, a figure that pales in comparison to the costs of food, housing, and medicine.
Economic hardships in Santiago de Cuba are evident in the lengthy waits to collect pensions. In July, dozens of elderly individuals queued from the previous afternoon to receive their pensions the next day, enduring waits of four to eight hours.
A March survey by the Independent Trade Union Association of Cuba revealed that 99% of the retirees surveyed felt their pension was insufficient for food, housing, and medicine. Additionally, 90.7% reported working informally to make ends meet.
Understanding the Plight of the Elderly in Cuba
Why was the elderly man's body left unattended for hours?
The delay in attending to the body was reportedly due to the authorities not arriving promptly to remove it. There are unverified claims that the police cited a lack of fuel as a reason for their delay.
What are the challenges faced by pensioners in Cuba?
Cuban pensioners face significant challenges, including insufficient pensions to cover basic needs like food, housing, and medicine, as well as lengthy waits to collect their pensions.
How have similar incidents been handled in the past?
Previous incidents, such as those in January and August of 2025, have also seen delays in response from emergency services, often due to lack of resources or availability.