The collapses in old buildings in Old Havana continue to pose a risk to the lives of residents due to state negligence and structural deterioration. A balcony of the Macera building, located at 118 Teniente Rey Street, between Cuba and San Ignacio, in Old Havana, partially collapsed this Tuesday, falling onto a vehicle parked in front of several ATMs. The incident, which occurred in one of the busiest areas of the historic center, did not result in any injuries, although it caused considerable alarm among passersby.
According to a report from CubaNet, the building—constructed in 1931 and managed by the institutions responsible for the so-called "Master Plan for the Restoration of the Historic Center of Havana"—showed visible signs of deterioration. According to a contributor from that media outlet, who captured the moment of the collapse on video, the neighbors have tried to repair the most damaged parts on their own, but the authorities have prevented such work by imposing fines ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 pesos, arguing that, due to the properties being heritage sites, they cannot intervene without official authorization.
"By a miracle, he didn't kill anyone."
In the video shared on social media, a witness can be heard exclaiming: “That balcony just fell, look, it landed on top of the car. Miraculously, it didn't kill anyone.” The man warns the driver of the damaged vehicle: “Who is going to pay for that now? Do you have insurance and all that?” To which the driver replies: “Yes, of course, the car is new.”
The balcony was situated directly above an ATM kiosk frequented daily by dozens of people. According to residents' reports, previous falls from the same façade had caused injuries to pedestrians and damage to parked vehicles. "Those balconies have collapsed several times, fracturing the skulls of people who were passing by or waiting in line at the ATMs," recounted the witness who recorded the incident.
Outrage on social media
The publication of the video provoked hundreds of comments on social media, many expressing fear and outrage at the condition of Havana's buildings and the lack of action from the authorities. "Everything is falling apart except what should be falling," wrote one user. Another commented, "It's a miracle no one died; it's always crowded with people around the ATMs." The criticism focused on state negligence: "In Havana, you don't even know whether to use the sidewalk or the street; it's a total danger, and if you try to make repairs on your own, the inspectors appear right away with their fines."
Other messages reflected resignation and sarcasm: “That’s covered by Canel insurance,” “In Cuba, the only insurance is running on time,” or “Communism doesn’t cover those damages; that’s collateral damage.” Despite the mocking tone of some, most agreed that the incident could have ended in tragedy. “If you walk on the street, cars will kill you, and if you walk on the sidewalks, the collapses will kill you,” wrote another person.
In Old Havana, the collapses of balconies, façades, and buildings are common. According to official figures from 2019, more than 850 buildings in Cuba were in critical condition, with 696 of them located in the capital. These collapses have resulted in dozens of casualties in recent years.
In November of last year, a woman and her son were killed when their house collapsed on Compostela Street, also in Old Havana. Days later, neighbors were digging through the rubble “out of necessity”, reflecting the poverty and institutional neglect. In September, another person lost their life in a collapse on Sol Street, also in Old Havana.
These events add to previous tragedies, such as the one on January 27, 2020, when the collapse of a balcony killed three girls in the Jesús María neighborhood, becoming a symbol of the neglect of Havana's housing stock. Residents of the Macera building claim that they have repeatedly warned about the dangers posed by deteriorating balconies in the area, yet authorities have not taken preventive measures.
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