A downpour lasting over an hour fell this Friday evening in the city of Camagüey and other areas of the province, turning dozens of streets into impassable mud puddles and some spots into actual lakes, according to a video published by La Hora de Cuba.
The independent media, through its author Antonio Quintero, documented how the section of the Avenida de los Mártires between the North polyclinic and the Méndez square was completely flooded.
A similar situation was also reported at the corner of San Ramón and Honda, a location that, according to the report, "has been obstructing the street after every downpour for years."
The direct cause was not only the intensity of the rains, but also the combination of sewage systems with chronic blockages that have not been addressed, along with the accumulation of garbage that obstructs urban drainage.
The episode is not isolated: Camagüey has a recurring pattern of flooding exacerbated by the deterioration of its drainage infrastructure.
In September 2024, the sewer system in the Saratoga neighborhood collapsed after a heavy downpour, repeating the same pattern that is now being observed again.
In September 2025, a severe storm flooded even the Amalia Simoni hospital, the La Caridad Shopping Center, and neighborhoods such as La Norma and Saratoga, with residents reporting clogged drains and sewage systems that had not been cleaned for years.
In October 2025, in the face of the imminent approach of Hurricane Melissa, the garbage continued to pile up in the streets of Camagüey, with organic waste and dead animals alongside homes, a situation that the authorities had not addressed.
The deterioration of urban infrastructure in Cuba is acknowledged even by officials of the regime: in January 2025, the Minister of Transportation admitted that the accumulated deterioration "is taking its toll," attributing it to a lack of resources, fuel, and specialized equipment.
Official data indicates that 75% of the country’s roads and thoroughfares are in fair or poor condition.
The rainy season in Cuba officially began on May 1, 2026, and lasts until October, accounting for approximately 80% of the country's annual precipitation.
In the early days of May, Las Tunas has already suffered flooding due to 62 mm of rain in 70 minutes, indicating that incidents like those in Camagüey will recur on infrastructure that has not been repaired.
The publication La Hora de Cuba closes with a question that encapsulates the accumulated indignation of the people of Camagüey: "If local authorities cannot resolve these eternal blockages that are part of their responsibility, why don't they resign?"
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