The Spanish youtuber Juanjo Dalmau, known for his channel Viajando con Dalmau, has once again stirred up social media after posting a video recorded during his visit to Havana, in which he denounces urban deterioration, the accumulation of garbage, and neglect from institutions in central areas of the Cuban capital.
"Well, here the music is blasting, people are happy... but it looks like this place is going to collapse, man. This house, everything is so brutal, so desolate... I just don’t know where to record," Dalmau comments while showing crumbling facades, streets littered with waste, and structures that, in his view, don’t seem livable. "I’ll say it again: people live here. This is Havana today. Look at the amount of garbage that's here that they don’t collect," he adds with a look of disbelief.
Along the way, it also stops at the iconic Havana seawall, where the contrast between the area's natural beauty and the advanced deterioration of its buildings stands out. “This is Cuba in a nutshell. Maintenance, zero here on the Malecón as well. Just look at how the pavement is,” he says, pointing to the broken ground.
The video has quickly sparked comments on social media. Many Cubans living abroad and residents expressed mixed emotions: sadness, nostalgia, and anger.
"I left Cuba 10 years ago and it was terrible, but now I have no comments... a mixture of emotions, tears of nostalgia and sorrow have come to my eyes at the same time," noted a user. Others described the images as "the sad reality of Cubans who are still in Cuba" or simply stated: "Cuba hurts."
The messages also included harsh criticisms of the regime: “Cuba is a failed state. Down with the dictatorship and freedom for the Cuban people,” while others questioned the Cuban government for not wanting “the best for its land and its people.” Some compared the scenes to countries in crisis: “I thought it was Somalia.”
Among the comments, appreciation was expressed to the influencer for bringing this reality to light: “Thank you for supporting the Cuban cause,” several users wrote.
This video is part of a series of content that Dalmau has shared about his experience in Cuba. Previously, he expressed his astonishment at the risk of collapse of many homes and food shortages. “The government is not going to do anything for them,” he said at that time after touring cracked houses without basic services.
He also starred in another viral moment while trying to get milk for a Cuban girl, accompanying a father through shops with empty shelves until he managed to find the product in a Mipyme, at unaffordable prices. The ordeal was documented in another viral video, which generated concern and solidarity.
A reality that others are also bringing to light
Dalmau's complaint adds to other voices that have recently documented the extreme living conditions in Cuba. The Peruvian influencer Oscar Curi showcased on TikTok what life is like for a woman and her family in Los Pocitos: without water, without a shower, without privacy.
Similarly, the creator @creadorcubano shared the story of a young man who has been living with his mother in a partially collapsed building for four years. The testimony has sparked strong reactions on social media.
Cuba: between structural collapse and institutional neglect
The testimonies of influencers, tourists, and Cuban residents reflect a widespread housing and sanitation crisis. According to official figures, 35% of the country's housing is in poor condition, although independent reports increase this percentage. The government's Housing Plan only achieved 39% of its goal in 2024, impacted by shortages of cement, basic materials, and a failing infrastructure.
While the authorities insist on "homegrown solutions," thousands of families sleep between cracked walls, without water, electricity, or basic food supplies. And now, thanks to videos from Dalmau, Curi, and others, the world is beginning to see a different side of Cuba that official tourism does not show.
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