In the town of Madruga, located in Mayabeque province, a family resorted to transporting their grandfather's coffin on a cart hitched to a classic car, after waiting in vain for hours for a funeral vehicle that never appeared.
The burial was originally scheduled for 10:00 am on Thursday but didn't occur until around 8:00 pm, as per the family’s account shared via the Facebook page NiO Reportando Un Crimen.
Photos display the coffin perched on a trailer, towed by a turquoise green classic car, moving along a bumpy rural road flanked by overgrown vegetation.
Within the comments, some users debated whether it was a horse-drawn cart or an "almendrón." One person clarified that the coffin had been placed on the cart—without a horse—and secured to the car.
The incident sparked outrage among viewers. "One can't even die with dignity anymore," lamented a commenter. Another pointed out that three services should never fail in any town: fire services, ambulances, and funeral transport.
Another comment highlighted that roughly a year ago, another deceased person in Mayabeque had to be moved using a tricycle for the same reason. "Sadly, nobody cares, their own are safe," summarized another user.
The province has been grappling with funeral transport issues. Back in July 2025, Radio Mayabeque reported that the western province had only two funeral vehicles available for its 11 municipalities, leading to delays of several hours or even more than a day.
In September 2024, another family in Mayabeque had to carry a coffin on foot for two kilometers to the cemetery due to the lack of funeral transport.
Earlier this year, in February, a family in Holguín improvised a coffin using cardboard and adhesive tape because there were no coffins available. In July, another funeral procession was spotted transporting a coffin on a cart pulled by a tricycle.
These deficiencies are not unique to Mayabeque. In Ciego de Ávila, only eight out of 19 funeral vehicles were operational, while Camagüey had just one functioning vehicle for the entire city.
Earlier in October, analyst Frank Rodríguez reported that mass graves were being used in some Cuban cities because families lacked the resources to afford a coffin.
Weeks prior, activist Lara Crofs warned that funeral services were "completely collapsed" and that securing a dignified burial depended on informal payments or family connections.
Architect Ileana Pérez Drago also criticized the situation, stating that Cuba needs to "dispose of its waste and bury its dead in coffins," a critique that encapsulates the degradation of basic services, extending even to the farewell of the deceased.
FAQs about Funeral Transport Crisis in Cuba
What led the family in Mayabeque to use a classic car for transporting a coffin?
The family used a classic car to tow the coffin on a cart because they waited for hours for a funeral vehicle that never arrived.
How prevalent are funeral transport issues in Cuba?
Funeral transport issues are widespread across Cuba, with multiple provinces facing shortages of operational vehicles, leading to significant delays and improvised solutions.
What alternatives have families in Cuba turned to for funeral processes?
Families have resorted to using carts, tricycles, and even makeshift coffins out of cardboard and tape due to the lack of available funeral services.