Related videos:
The authorities of Centro Habana attributed the partial collapse that occurred this week in a building on Industria Street, between San Rafael and San Miguel, to the fall of an elevator component located on the rooftop.
The collapse affected the seventh and eighth floors of the building and left three people injured: one adult and two minors. According to reports from official sources, the injured were transferred to the Calixto García General Hospital and the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital.
“The political and governmental authorities promptly arrived at the scene, where specialists assessed the situation and evacuated the remaining residents as a precaution,” stated the Municipal Assembly of the People’s Power of Centro Habana in a statement shared on social media.
In the same official report, the authorities highlighted that "neighbors, officials, and specialists have demonstrated cooperation, discipline, and willingness to provide assistance in the area of the incident," emphasizing the coordinated response following the disaster.
Construction crews and specialized forces intervened at the site and continue to work on recovering material assets and ensuring structural stabilization. It has not yet been confirmed whether the building will be declared uninhabitable.
Images initially released by the CAM Centro Habana —and later removed— showed scenes from inside the building with collapsed walls, propped-up structures, deep cracks, and debris on furniture. The structural deterioration was evident before the disaster, as neighbors in the area have pointed out.
The incident occurs amid a series of similar collapses that have struck Centro Habana in recent weeks. On San Lázaro Street, between Oquendo and Márquez González, a collapse in a hallway left 14 people affected amidst widespread power outages.
In the corner of Belascoaín and San Miguel, a dilapidated building has been accumulating trash and structural damage for years without any preventive measures or official intervention, despite the evident danger to pedestrians and residents.
In the same area, several families have reported progressive collapses at Belascoaín #105, where part of the structure has fallen, and residents claim that the authorities have not provided concrete responses or relocation solutions.
In mid-August, another emergency occurred on Reina Street, when a room on the third floor collapsed, leaving a 75-year-old woman hospitalized and about fifty people without shelter, waiting for a government response that has yet to arrive.
All these events reveal an alarming pattern: old houses, many of them over a hundred years old, collapsing due to lack of maintenance, humidity, overpopulation, and institutional neglect. While investments in hotels and tourism projects are prioritized, thousands of families in Havana survive under roofs that could collapse at any moment. Collapses are no longer exceptions; they have become part of the everyday landscape of a city that is falling apart.
Frequently Asked Questions about Landslides in Centro Habana
What was the main cause of the collapse in the building in Centro Habana?
The partial collapse of the building in Centro Habana was attributed by the capital's authorities to the fall of an elevator component located on the roof. This incident highlighted the existing structural deterioration of the building prior to the collapse.
How many people were injured in the collapse and what is their condition?
The collapse of the building left three people injured: one adult and two minors. They were taken to the Calixto García General Hospital and the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital for medical attention.
What measures have the authorities taken in response to the collapse in Centro Habana?
Political and governmental authorities promptly arrived at the site of the collapse. Neighbors of the building were evacuated as a precaution, and efforts were made to recover material assets and stabilize the structure. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether the building will be declared uninhabitable.
What is the current state of housing in Centro Habana?
The condition of housing in Centro Habana is critical, with an alarming pattern of collapses due to lack of maintenance, humidity, overcrowding, and institutional neglect. Many century-old buildings are at risk of collapsing, and the authorities have not implemented effective preventive measures.
Filed under: