Related videos:
The Loyola Reina Center wore mourning this weekend after confirming that among the victims of the collapse that occurred in the early hours of July 12 at a building on Monte 722 in Old Havana, was one of its students: Alejandra Cotilla, a girl of only seven years old with an extraordinary talent for the visual arts, as well as her mother and father, who were also active members of that educational and spiritual community.
The tragedy struck an entire family and left an indelible mark on those who shared life, faith, and hope with them. In an emotional message posted on their social media, the Loyola Center remembered Alejandra as “the youngest of our Drawing Workshop”, noted for her creativity, joy, and artistic vocation. Her time at the center was short, but it deeply affected teachers and classmates, who today mourn her along with her parents.
“Always present and attentive, she was an example of kindness and commitment to her daughter's upbringing”, wrote the institution referring to Alejandra's mother. “Her smile will be an inspiration to all.”
An avoidable tragedy
The collapse of the building, located between Rastro and Carmen, was not a surprise for the neighborhood residents. Like in many areas of Old Havana and Centro Habana, crumbling buildings, leaks, and weakened structures are part of the everyday landscape. This time, the cost was the life of an entire family.
The authorities of the Government and the Party, along with neighbors and rescue brigades from the Fire Department and the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), worked for hours to gain access to the interior of the building, where they knew three people were trapped. Their efforts came too late. None survived.
Although initially the official sources did not disclose the names of the deceased, the Centro Loyola Reina made the identities of three members of its community public, putting faces to a tragedy that, due to its frequency, has ceased to be news in the state press.
"We pray for the structures to change."
In its message, the Center made an appeal to the collective conscience: “We pray to the Father for the structures to change that force thousands of Cubans to risk their lives living in dilapidated houses”. Through the pain, the statement became a deep denunciation: the precarious housing situation as a ticking time bomb threatening Cuban families every day.
The collapse of Monte 722 was not an accident. It was the result of decades of deterioration, disinvestment, and institutional neglect in a country where luxury hotels rise just a few blocks away from homes that are falling apart.
The entire country of Cuba has witnessed the growth of its tourist infrastructure while the housing stock ages without remedy. Thousands live in fear that their roofs will collapse. Alejandra and her parents were not victims of a storm or an earthquake, but of a system that continues to fail in the most basic aspect: protecting human life.
Frequently asked questions about the collapse in Old Havana
What happened in the collapse of Monte 722 in Old Havana?
The collapse of the building at Monte 722 resulted in the tragic death of three people, including a seven-year-old girl named Alejandra Cotilla and her parents. The family was part of the Loyola Reina Center community, which expressed its grief and called for a change in the structures that force Cubans to live in dangerous conditions.
Why did the building collapse in Old Havana?
The collapse was a consequence of the accumulated deterioration and lack of maintenance of the buildings in Old Havana un problema recurrente en muchas zonas de la ciudad debido a la desatención institucional y la prioridad del régimen en la construcción de hoteles en lugar de reparar viviendas.
What has the Cuban government done about the issue of collapses in Havana?
The Cuban government has been criticized for not effectively addressing the problem of building collapses. Although some interventions have been made, the investment has primarily focused on tourism, neglecting the urgent need to improve the housing conditions of citizens.
How has the community reacted to the tragedy of the collapse?
The community, especially the Loyola Reina Center, has expressed its deep sorrow and has used the tragedy to denounce the housing precariousness in Cuba. A structural change has been requested to ensure the safety of housing and to prevent future tragedies.
Filed under: