The province of Matanzas is experiencing one of the worst crises in recent years: in addition to the prolonged shortage of drinking water, there are power outages lasting over 24 hours and a resurgence of viral illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya, which are overwhelming local healthcare facilities.
Recent videos circulated on social media show neighbors from various neighborhoods resorting to sewers and drainage channels to obtain water for cooking, bathing, or cleaning.
In one of the clips shared by the user @paquitovlogs777 on Instagram, a group of people is seen filling buckets and bottles from an unsanitary ditch, while others warn that “there are no other options left.”
"The water shortage has worsened to such an extent that people have to resort to the sewers to obtain this resource," the creator stated in their post, which went viral under the hashtag #Cuba #Hoy.
The health situation is worsening with the spread of dengue and chikungunya, affecting hundreds of families. Local doctors, speaking on condition of anonymity, report overcrowded hospitals and a shortage of antipyretic medications and serums.
The official newspaper Girón acknowledged in August that the prolonged shortage has driven a black market for water, where the price per liter reaches one Cuban peso. For a family of three, meeting basic monthly consumption can mean more than 9,000 pesos — an unaffordable amount for most.
Access to water has become a luxury due to breakdowns in pumping equipment, voltage fluctuations, and constant power outages.
According to Yordanis Mora Sánchez, director of Engineering at the Water and Sewer Company (EAA), at least a dozen pumps are out of service, and more than 60% of the issues are related to a lack of electricity.
"A simple stop for a few minutes causes a collapse in distribution, and restarting the system requires technical maneuvers to prevent setbacks in the network," explained the official.
The crisis in Matanzas reflects a national problem of infrastructure and management. In Havana, nearly half a million people also lack stable access to drinking water, while other provinces in the eastern part of the country report power outages lasting up to 30 consecutive hours and similar outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases.
Residents of Matanzas claim that local authorities have promised solutions without visible results. “After the leaders came, everything got worse; there’s not even water in the hospital,” reported a resident in statements to independent media.
Meanwhile, social media is filled with complaints and sarcasm. “And tomorrow they will call them to go welcome Díaz-Canel, and everyone will go happily,” wrote a user in a viral comment. Others accuse the government of “keeping the people occupied with surviving so they don’t have time to protest.”
Without water, facing blackouts, and amidst a growing health crisis, Matanzas has become the most stark reflection of the deterioration affecting daily life in Cuba today. An emblematic province, suffocated by misery and indifference.
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