In the early hours of Thursday, a partial collapse of the roof at an OFICODA office in Pinar del Río city trapped a family in the adjacent house. The incident underscores the deteriorating infrastructure plaguing Cuba.
The news was shared by "De Pinar Soy," a Facebook page linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in the province, known for reporting police and security news aligned with the regime.
The collapse was attributed to the poor condition of that section of the building's roof. Firefighters from Pinar del Río responded in the early morning, successfully rescuing the family members without any injuries.
The report highlighted the absence of injuries, framing it as a success of the emergency services' response, a common narrative in state-affiliated media that often emphasize state actions over the structural neglect causing these incidents.
According to CubaNet, a vehicle had collided with the office's porch columns, leading to part of the roof's detachment.
OFICODA, which stands for the Office of Control for the Distribution of Supplies, is a network of state entities managing the Consumer Registry and overseeing the "Libreta de Abastecimiento," Cuba's ration book system in place since 1962.
These offices, present throughout the country and under the Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN), serve as the contact point between the state and citizens for distributing subsidized food and goods.
The fact that one of these offices had a roof so neglected it collapsed, endangering neighboring residents, highlights the severe infrastructure crisis in Cuba, affecting both private and state-owned buildings.
Pinar del Río faces additional severe shortages: water supply heavily relies on tanker trucks, which residents reportedly pay up to 15,000 pesos for, according to recent reports.
Nationally, approximately 35% of Cuba's housing stock — out of about 4.1 million homes — is in poor or fair condition, with a deficit exceeding 929,000 units.
In Havana, official figures cited in April indicated nearly 1,000 building collapses occur annually, reflecting decades of neglect and lack of investment in maintenance.
The Pinar del Río incident adds to a series of similar occurrences in recent months: In Camagüey, two elderly individuals were rescued alive after a house collapse in late September, and in Central Havana, a partial building collapse endangered residents shortly thereafter.
Understanding Cuba's Infrastructure Challenges
What caused the Pinar del Río office roof collapse?
The collapse was due to the poor condition of that section of the building's roof, exacerbated by a vehicle impact on the porch columns.
What is OFICODA's role in Cuba?
OFICODA manages the Consumer Registry and administers the ration book system, distributing food and goods to Cuban citizens.
How does the infrastructure crisis affect Cuban citizens?
The infrastructure crisis results in frequent building collapses, endangering lives and highlighting the lack of maintenance and investment in state and private properties.
What are some of the challenges faced by Pinar del Río?
In addition to infrastructure issues, Pinar del Río struggles with water supply shortages, relying on expensive tanker trucks for delivery.