Once again, "El Bote" in Havana is on fire: toxic smoke spreads through the city

A new fire at the landfill known as "El Bote," located in the area of 100 and Boyeros, has once again filled vast areas of Havana with toxic smoke, as reported by readers of CiberCuba who sent images of the incident.

The landfill, considered the largest open-air dump in Cuba, is burning again, as happens frequently, producing a massive cloud of smoke that drifts through various neighborhoods of the capital depending on the wind direction.

According to one of the complainants, the fire generates thick smoke that can spread throughout the city for hours.

In the vicinity of the landfill, there are hundreds of thousands of people who are exposed to pollution.

Residents in the area claim that these fires can last for weeks or even months, releasing toxic gases that severely impact the health of those living nearby.

Moreover, this type of burning at that landfill has almost become a local tradition.

A resident who sent the images reported that some people wake up with severe respiratory issues.

"There are people who wake up spitting blood, with their throat and airways severely damaged," he stated.

In one of the photographs sent by the readers, the Technological University of Havana (CUJAE / ISPJAE) is seen covered by the cloud of smoke coming from the landfill.

The complaints about the dump at 100 and Boyeros date back decades.

Residents of the area claim to have submitted numerous complaints to the Public Health authorities and other institutions, but no definitive solution has been found so far.

The waste crisis has also spread to other cities in the country, where makeshift dumps have emerged that often end up on fire or are set ablaze to reduce the accumulation of waste.

In addition, there are trash piles that remain accumulated in streets and neighborhoods for weeks, many of which also end up catching fire and releasing toxic smoke that affects air quality.

Meanwhile, thousands of Havana residents continue to be exposed to the contamination generated by the landfill, in an environmental issue that has been persistent for years and is worsening amid the crisis of services on the island.