After the official journalist Yirmara Torres Hernández reported on social media about the accumulation of garbage close to the Provincial Pediatric Hospital Eliseo Noel Caamaño in Matanzas, the authorities sent trucks to remove the waste. The reporter herself showcased the outcome in a follow-up video published on Facebook, where she confirmed that the main dumps had been removed, although she cautioned that the underlying issue remains unresolved.
Days before, Torres had raised concerns about the existence of a huge dump at the intersection of Santa Isabel and San Carlos, just a block away from the pediatric hospital. He also reported another waste hotspot at San Carlos and Salamanca, right along the route used by ambulances to access the hospital and where children pass when they are discharged.
After the public complaint, a truck first collected the garbage accumulated in Santa Isabel and San Carlos. However, the operation could not be completed that same day because the vehicle filled up and they didn't have enough fuel to continue. The next day, the authorities removed the waste from San Carlos and Salamanca, a process that Torres recorded and shared on social media.
"They say there were huge rats and that, well, it was horrible, but at least it's clean now. We'll see how long that lasts," the journalist commented while recounting what local residents told her during the cleanup.
Despite the cleaning of those critical points, the solution remains partial. Torres warned that small dumps are still present on Salamanca Street and another hotspot next to the José Antonio Echeverría primary school, a vacant building at risk of collapse. "The stench is unbearable," he stated.
The reporter also pointed out the root of the problem: the lack of fuel to sustain the garbage collection service. "They don't have enough fuel to collect more trash bins," she explained.
The waste crisis in Matanzas reflects the deterioration of the communal system in the province. In May 2026, the Municipal Communal Company was operating with only 11 active trucks out of a total of 24 or 25 available. Additionally, the daily allocation of diesel fluctuated between 300 and 550 liters, well below the 112 liters per vehicle needed to complete two daily routes.
The municipal mayor, Michel León Rodríguez, recently acknowledged on the program "Con Voz de Pueblo", from TV Yumurí, the shortages of personnel and equipment to tackle the crisis. However, he attributed the situation to the U.S. embargo, sidestepping the regime's responsibility for the collapse of basic services.
The Eliseo Noel Caamaño Provincial Pediatric Hospital has been experiencing a critical situation for months. In October 2025, the center operated at 100% capacity with its 75 beds due to a simultaneous outbreak of dengue, chikungunya, and oropouche. Months later, in February 2026, a video circulated on social media showing dirty bathrooms, deteriorated floors, and broken furniture within the institution.
In addition, in April 2026, health authorities reported a provincial alert for hepatitis A in Matanzas, linked precisely to the accumulation of garbage and poor hygiene conditions.
Torres, who on previous occasions has been the target of attacks and discrediting campaigns by officialist sectors after reporting social issues in the province, insisted that the solution cannot rely solely on the available fuel.
"Garbage and water must be the priority today, because our lives depend on it," he concluded.
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