Argentinian influencer shows destruction and decay of Havana

The Argentine journalist and influencer Melina Moriatis shared a video on her social media that shows the destruction and decline of Havana.

Ruined buildings, streets covered with garbage, puddles of water, and decay on the sidewalks were photographed by Moriatis in a graphic testimony of the decline of the Cuban capital, dated September 2024.

The mountain of garbage and waste piled up on Compostela Street, right in front of the Habanera Pharmacy Museum, an iconic building founded as a pharmacy in 1886 by the Catalan José Sarrá, was striking.

The building, where a pharmacy is supposedly still operating inside, reveals the unhealthy environment and decay that prevails in Cuba and its capital, where medications are scarce and infectious diseases proliferate due to the increase in the population of rats and mosquitoes.

Elderly people with sores on their legs, others lying on the sidewalks begging for alms, and those wandering through the streets collecting rotten food from the trash were depicted by Moriatis.

Nominated at the Influencer Icon 2024 festival in the category of Best Travel Influencer, Moriatis comes into direct contact with people from the various cities she visits. In 2023 and 2024, her account became the most viral in Argentina, with videos that reached up to 18 million views.

Its content has been so impactful that many of its videos have been replicated in news broadcasts, portals, and television programs in various countries, further increasing its influence and reach.

The Argentine woman, who recently visited Cuba, denounced on her social media the alarming situation of the island's public health system, showcasing through videos the deficiencies she experienced during her stay.

Awarded the Martín Fierro prize in 2024, and with over 570 thousand followers on TikTok, Moriatis recounted how an earache led her to seek medical attention on the island and she discovered a heartbreaking situation.

Known for showing both sides of the coin of the places she visits, the journalist also shared on her social media other experiences from her trip to Cuba, highlighting the beauty of its beaches, such as those in Cayo Santa María.