A mother and her son die in the collapse of their home in Old Havana

The early hours of this Sunday left a tragic toll in Old Havana, where a partial collapse resulted in the deaths of Carlos Fidel Sánchez Díaz, 38 years old, and his mother, Sara Paula Díaz, 64 years old.

The incident occurred around 2:15 AM at a property on Compostela Street between Muralla and Sol, in the Belén popular council.

Journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso confirmed on Facebook that both of them died following the collapse of the building's second floor.

A reporter from the independent portal CubaNet spoke with several neighbors who reported that the building exhibited clear structural deterioration. They also specified that the collapse occurred at the rear.

Inside lived several families: a woman with four children, an elderly lady, and an elderly man with his son.

Joint rescue and salvage teams from the Police and the Ministry of Public Health were dispatched to the site.

The fact is not isolated.

In recent years, Havana has witnessed how the deterioration of its buildings, the scarcity of construction materials, and state negligence have turned many homes into real death traps.

According to official figures, around 1,000 buildings collapse each year in the city, resulting in both fatalities and injuries.

Recent cases, such as the collapse at the end of September on Calle Sol or the partial collapse on September 16 at Industria and San Rafael, reveal a recurring pattern of neglect and lack of maintenance.

The housing crisis has forced many families to return to properties in poor condition due to the lack of alternatives.

Unlike the construction of hotels and tourism projects that the government has prioritized, the lives of hundreds of residents remain exposed to daily risk.

Witnesses agree that the tragedy could have been avoided if there had been effective policies for the maintenance and renewal of buildings, as well as thorough inspections to prevent collapses.

However, the institutional sluggishness and lack of effective response once again highlight the neglect faced by thousands of residents in Havana, who are forced to confront their precarious situation with their own resources or the support of their community.

While the authorities conduct assessments and promise aid that rarely arrives, the population survives amidst the rubble, insecurity, and hopelessness.

The tragedy of Compostela serves as a reminder that behind every statistical figure, there are human lives at risk and families devastated by governmental inefficiency.