The imminent arrival of Hurricane Rafael in Western Cuba has sparked a frenzy among authorities in Havana, who are concerned about the accumulation of garbage and solid waste on the streets of the capital.
The accumulation of trash poses a risk when it comes to draining the water left by heavy rains and coastal incursions associated with strong winds, which could contribute to the formation of floods in low-lying areas of the city.
A report from the National News of Cuban Television (NTV) highlighted the urgent deployment of work brigades focused on cleaning up waste and garbage in the capital, a situation that has seen little improvement despite the recent commitment made by the ruling Miguel Díaz-Canel to address the issue.
"The other measures being implemented by the province are related to solid waste collection and the cleaning of drains... At this moment, the work is preventive, especially in the areas that contribute to the more than 175 low-lying zones," explained Namán Morales Masulén, head of the Construction Subgroup of the Defense Council of Havana, which is working alongside the other subgroups established to support the cleanup efforts.
Furthermore, the executive expressed concern about the potential impact of Rafael on the dilapidated buildings in the capital, which could lead to collapses as seen in previous instances.
"We had been working for over two months on reinforcing the supports in the city’s critical buildings. We have completed 299, with around 120 still pending," stated Morales Masulén.
For his part, the director of the Aguas de La Habana company, Yosvani Rubí, indicated that they were prioritizing urban areas such as Centro Habana and other low-lying regions “that are essentially the ones that experience these types of incidents [flooding] during such events.”
"Instructions have been issued at the neighborhood and district levels to assist us in collecting all this waste that is obstructing the proper drainage systems," the official added.
Díaz-Canel declared war on garbage in Havana... and lost.
The waste situation in Havana has become a chronic problem, with numerous citizen reports and social media posts highlighting the lack of an effective trash collection system.
The problem has escalated in recent months to the point that the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel publicly declared a "war on waste," assigning each ministry a specific municipality to oversee the cleaning efforts.
However, this measure has not produced significant results, and the accumulation of waste continues to impact the city, particularly in densely populated areas like Diez de Octubre and Centro Habana.
This issue poses a greater threat with the approach of Hurricane Rafael, as the accumulated garbage blocks drains and sewers, impeding drainage and increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas.
In previous events, the lack of infrastructure and waste in the streets have worsened the flooding, affecting thousands of residents in Havana and causing damage to already deteriorated structures.
In this context, the authorities' call for citizen collaboration to clean the streets highlights the inadequacy of waste collection services and the deterioration of urban infrastructure.
The preparation for Hurricane Rafael highlights the lack of sustainable solutions for waste collection in Havana, a problem that persists despite efforts for control and promises of attention from the Cuban regime.
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