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A new collapse shook the morning of this Monday in the city of Manzanillo, when two houses located on José de la Luz y Caballero Street, at the corner of Dr. Codina, partially collapsed, leaving a scene of destruction that, according to witnesses, resembled the aftermath of an earthquake.
Fortunately, no loss of human life was reported.
Journalist José Ortiz Benet reported on that the incident occurred in the early hours and that the neighbors managed to evacuate in time.
Orlando Mariño Ramírez, a resident of one of the affected houses, recounted the dramatic moment: "I felt some stones starting to fall and quickly ran out. I managed to get to the sidewalk across the street in time." His immediate reaction prevented what could have been a greater tragedy.
Members of the Red Cross in Manzanillo and the Fire Department arrived at the scene to assist residents and remove debris.
Among those rescued is the visually impaired Mr. Humberto Fidel Matos Escalante, who was pulled out alive. Visibly shaken, he explained: "I was in the kitchen, a few meters from the collapse, and something clearly told me in my mind, don't move from here. I thank God for this miracle."
The images released show the extent of the collapse: detached roofs, walls reduced to rubble, and the street covered in debris as firefighters work amidst the dust.
The fact that no fatalities were reported is almost miraculous given the level of visible destruction.
This new episode adds to a series of collapses that have become increasingly frequent in various cities across the country in recent years.
The progressive deterioration of the housing stock, the lack of maintenance, and the material inability of many families to repair their homes have turned numerous properties into vulnerable structures.
The authorities, far from providing sustained structural solutions, react only after the damage has already been done.
Many residents continue to live in buildings deemed to be in poor condition because leaving their homes does not guarantee a decent alternative.
Those who agree to leave are often moved to state-run shelters where conditions are precarious, and their stay can extend for years without a definitive solution. Faced with this reality, many families choose to remain in homes that pose a constant danger.
In the current economic context, losing a home means not only being without shelter but also losing belongings, furniture, and memories accumulated over a lifetime.
With the scarcity of construction materials and skyrocketing inflation, rebuilding is practically impossible for most. The loss is complete, and recovery seems unattainable.
Citizen outrage was immediately reflected in the comments on the post.
"Manzanillo is falling apart and the government is doing nothing. Little by little it will become ruins if things keep going like this. We really need someone with a sense of belonging for our Manzanillo!" wrote a resident.
Another user lamented: "It's very sad the condition of our city. How much damage this system has done to our homeland."
Reactions came from abroad as well. "Manzanillo in pieces," commented a Cuban in the United States. Another resident in Miami summarized the general sentiment: "Cuba is falling apart."
A doctor provided a technical assessment: "These are very old houses, and without any maintenance, it's normal for that to be the outcome; thankfully, hurricanes never pass through that area."
His words address the underlying problem: aging buildings, without rehabilitation or investment, that inevitably end up collapsing.
The collapse of these two homes did not result in any casualties, but it raises alarms once again about the structural crisis the country is facing in terms of housing.
Luck prevented a greater tragedy this time; the question is how much longer the safety of thousands of families will rely on a mere stroke of fortune.
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