At least five homes suffered partial collapses on Saturday afternoon in the Wajay neighborhood, in the Boyeros municipality of the capital.
Various reports on social media indicate that the wooden and tile roofs of the doorways of the houses have collapsed, along with some pieces of covering inside the homes.
So far, the status of those affected and the causes of the collapse have not been clarified, but they assure that there were no injuries or fatalities.
The user identified as Loidel Gainza, who shared images of the incident, reported that the residents in the homes managed to retrieve most of their belongings after the disaster.
The photos shared by internet users reveal the extent of the damage: debris everywhere, entrances completely collapsed due to the landslide, rooms without roofs.
The official press has not reported on the news nor clarified whether five or six homes were affected, as some internet users claimed.
According to the hundreds of comments expressed on the Facebook posts that documented the incident, the houses had been at risk of collapse for some time, but the regime did not grant permission for construction due to it being a "heritage" area.
According to the internet user Onelio García, the incident took place in homes along the North Highway of the town of Wajay, an old road that connected the town with the Toledo Sugar Mill and the Marianao Racetrack.
"This part of the town was a 'Heritage Zone of the settlement' that still stood with its old roofs and wooden houses that marked the entrance of the village... Thank God, there were no reported losses of human lives," he said.
"Cino families affected in the Wajay area, including my late grandmother's house and where I was born. It pains me to see that house without a roof, but it’s even more heartbreaking to see my nieces and other mothers crying, not knowing what direction their lives and those of their children will take. My question is, did we have to wait for these people to lose everything? Was it really that difficult to change the status of their homes to ensure they could be repaired?" wrote the internet user Lis Milagro Grau Izquierdo.
"Thank God there were no lost lives or injuries, but psychologically, children, mothers, and the elderly are all despondent," he concluded.
The condition of housing in Cuba is alarming: 35% of the homes are in poor condition, according to official data released by the government last December.
Delilah Díaz Fernández, the general director of Housing, stated at the National Assembly that by the end of 2024, only 65% of the 4,078,519 registered homes would be in acceptable condition.
However, independent reports suggest that the housing deterioration is greater. Lawyer Yaxis Cires, from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), stated to Martí Noticias that studies conducted by that organization on housing in the country indicate that "around 30% is in good condition, while the rest needs repairs or is at risk of collapse."
Frequently Asked Questions about Collapses in Cuba
How many homes were affected by the collapse in Wajay, Boyeros?
The collapse affected at least five homes in the Wajay neighborhood, Boyeros. The wooden and tiled roofs of the porches of the houses, as well as parts of the interior coverings, collapsed. Some reports indicate that there could be six affected homes.
What are the causes of the collapse in Wajay?
Until now, the exact causes of the collapse have not been clarified. However, it is mentioned that the houses had been at risk of collapsing for some time, but the authorities did not allow repairs because it is a "heritage" area.
Were there any casualties or injuries in the collapse in Boyeros?
Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities in the collapse that occurred in Wajay, Boyeros.
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