A garbage truck moving through the historic center of Cienfuegos with its wheels completely destroyed, nearly rolling on the metal rims, has become this week the new symbol of the collapse of municipal services in Cuba.
The video, posted on Instagram by user Yosley Barberi, shows the vehicle driving through the streets of the historic center of the city —designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005— without stopping despite the ruined state of its tires.
The author of the clip summarized the scene with a phrase: "When you think you've seen it all in Cuba".
Several users in the comments confirmed having witnessed the incident and discussed the vehicle's route through the heart of the city.
"I can't believe it, and right in the middle of parque Martí," wrote one of the witnesses. Another added: "We saw it when it passed by the Hotel San Carlos; we nearly flew from the fright."
The image is particularly striking because Parque José Martí, in front of which the truck was seen, is the heart of the historical center of Cienfuegos, surrounded by 19th-century neoclassical architecture and declared a National Monument. The fact that a vehicle in such condition was able to drive through these streets without stopping speaks of a crisis that can no longer be concealed.
It is likely that the driver tried to reach their destination despite the extreme wear of the tires, as resources for an immediate repair were simply unavailable. The shortage of tires affects the entire vehicle fleet of the country, from private cars to communal service vehicles.
Some users began to doubt the authenticity of the images. "That has to be fake," wrote one. The video's creator responded directly: "No, not at all."
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