Attempted robbery leaves building in Havana without gas, and the state-owned company does not respond

An attempted theft of gas pipes left residents of a building in Havana in suspense early Monday morning, as a massive gas leak forced entire families to evacuate their homes in the middle of the night, with the state-owned company failing to respond to emergency calls.

The photojournalist from the official newspaper Juventud Rebelde, Roberto Suárez, recounted in a video report the distressing situation they experienced around 3:00 a.m., when criminals attempted to steal part of the manufactured gas supply system from the building.

According to him, when the pipe was broken, the entire building was flooded with a strong smell of gas while the thieves escaped, leaving the ruptured pipe on the ground. “We risked our lives there and tried to shut off the pipe somehow, because it was unbelievable,” Suárez said after a sleepless night.

The photojournalist claimed that he and several neighbors called the emergency number designated for reporting leaks, 7204-5252, repeatedly, but no one answered, even though it is a line that, according to him, should be staffed by personnel on duty 24 hours a day.

"That number never answered. It's supposed to be that when you call about a gas leak, it's for something urgent, right?" she questioned, also pointing out that the supposed patrol car never showed up either.

The firefighters did arrive at the scene, but only because a neighbor, in the midst of panic, decided to call them directly due to the gas company's lack of response.

A problem that has been worsening for a while now

Suárez stated that the theft of gas pipes has become common for some time now, an extremely dangerous practice in buildings with outdated and poorly maintained infrastructure. This time, the thieves were unable to take the section, but they caused an accident that could have cost lives.

The report once again highlights the accelerated deterioration of public services in Cuba, where the theft of electrical cables, sewer covers, hydraulic network components, and now gas pipes is becoming more frequent, amid an economic crisis that is plunging the country into a spiral of precariousness and insecurity.