Residents of Santiago de Cuba light trash bins in protest of the inefficiency in waste collection.

In recent hours, the desperation over the ineffective garbage collection in Santiago de Cuba has reached a critical point, and citizens have begun to set fire to the waste accumulating in the streets.

According to reports shared by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on his Facebook page, residents of Santiago have started to set fire to the garbage that accumulates in their neighborhoods as a form of protest.

One of the most recent incidents took place in Reparto Ateneo, which belongs to the Popular Council Vista Hermosa. In this location, several piles of garbage, which had already been reported previously, were set on fire, creating an atmosphere of tension and danger for the residents.

Mayeta Labrada reported that these garbage bins are located in front of schools, butcher shops, and private homes, which increases concern among the neighbors.

The situation is repeating in different parts of the city. On Gasómetro Street, at the corner of 10 de Trocha Street, another garbage dump was set on fire. Only after the Mayeta Labrada page reported the situation did the authorities arrive at the site to clean the affected area.

The problem of garbage accumulation has intensified in Santiago de Cuba, generating growing discontent among the population.

Specifically in the Ateneo neighborhood, the images reveal the persistent situation of micro and macro dumps near schools and homes.

The inefficient waste management by Servicios Comunales has led the people of Santiago to set fire to the garbage bins as a desperate measure to confront the serious health situation the city is experiencing.

In addition to the garbage crisis, the management of Community Services was recently questioned when an artistic gala was held in Santiago amidst the accumulation of waste throughout the city.

Citizen complaints have highlighted the unsanitary conditions in several communities, where the increase in garbage dumps has coincided with epidemiological outbreaks of dengue and the Oropouche virus.

However, since June, concerns have intensified, with residents of Altamira reporting dumps adjacent to schools and childcare centers, which exacerbates the health risk for children and adults.

The situation not only affects Santiago but also other Cuban cities. Recently, a fire at a landfill was reported in the Mantilla neighborhood of Havana, which caused concern among the residents.

A recent study shows that the government fails to collect the equivalent of three Olympic-sized swimming pools of garbage each day in Havana, which translates into an environment conducive to the proliferation of diseases.

On July 24, it was reported that the Provincial Directorate of Community Services is facing a crisis in equipment availability, further exacerbating the public health situation.

In this context, the government stated that it is seeking foreign investment to mitigate the waste management crisis, although effective solutions have not yet been implemented, while citizens' complaints about this issue continue to accumulate.