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A section of a warehouse located at the corner of Ruiz and Velázquez streets, in Cárdenas, Matanzas province, collapsed this Monday without causing any injuries.
According to independent journalist Christian Arbolaez, who documented the event on social media, the rain that fell during the day may have been the final trigger for the collapse of a structure that had been in an advanced state of deterioration for some time.
"According to local residents, today's rain seems to have ultimately caused the collapse of the structure, which had been threatening to fall for quite some time," wrote Arbolaez.
Las imágenes publicadas muestran la fachada frontal del edificio completamente colapsada, con escombros y bloques de mampostería esparcidos sobre la calzada mojada, mientras vecinos observaban los daños desde la distancia.
What prevented a greater tragedy was that at the moment of the collapse, there was no one inside the building.
"The most incredible thing —and also the most important— is that at that moment there was no one at the site. Many people usually gather there daily, so a real tragedy could have occurred," noted the journalist.
Residents of the area had been warning for some time about the danger posed by the building, but the structure was never intervened or repaired.
The collapse of this warehouse is not an isolated incident. Just days before, images of the extreme deterioration in Cárdenas depicted the state of neglect in a busy historical area of the city, featuring damaged buildings, pavement with deep cracks, and piles of rubble.
On April 26, the cross of the bell tower of the Chapel of San Antonio de Padua in Cárdenas had to be removed due to the risk of collapse, after sustaining severe damage from lightning strikes.
The pattern of state-operated warehouses collapsing due to structural deterioration is not new in Cuba. In January 2023, the warehouse "Unidad 3007 La Viajera" in Banes, Holguín experienced a complete collapse of its roof without injuries. In July 2025, the government in Colón, also in Matanzas, restricted access to several warehouses due to "advanced deterioration and lack of maintenance."
Structural deterioration in Cuba is a response to a crisis of alarming proportions. The Ministry of Construction reported a deficit of 805,583 housing units in January 2025, projected to reach 929,000 units by the end of 2026. Of the 4.1 million existing homes in the country, only 65% are in good condition. Cement production operated at 10% of its installed capacity in 2024, which limits any possibility of repair.
Cárdenas, known as the "Flag City" for being the place where General Narciso López first raised the Cuban flag on May 19, 1850, is today experiencing urban decay that contrasts with its history. Retirees from Cárdenas received pensions of just 4,000 Cuban pesos—around nine dollars—in November 2025 after waiting in long lines at the banks.
«Gracias a Dios, en esta ocasión todo quedó en un gran susto y daños materiales», concluyó Arbolaez en su publicación.
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