A section of the metal railings of one of the bridges in Matanzas was torn off, according to documentation shared this Saturday by the Facebook page Ciudad de Matanzas en Fotos, which posted an image of the damage caused to the historically styled ornamental structure.
The photographs show the affected section, one of the railings with a geometric design featuring hexagonal and rhomboidal shapes, in a bluish-gray color, with the missing segment clearly visible.
The non-slip metallic grating of the bridge and the intensely green water flowing beneath it create an image of decay that has become commonplace in the so-called City of Bridges.
It was not specified which of the city's bridges was affected, the exact date of the incident, or whether any individuals have been identified or arrested.
“At any moment, they'll take even the columns that are symbols of the city,” commented user Mercedes Mercy Maa, who shared the group of images in the mentioned group.
Matanzas has between 17 and 29 bridges that cross the San Juan, Canímar, and Yumurí rivers, at least five of which are over a hundred years old and considered part of Cuba's engineering heritage. The La Concordia bridge, built in 1878, is the most iconic.
The episode adds to a pattern of vandalism and institutional inaction that has intensified in recent months in the province.
In May, the provincial telecenter TV Yumurí reported that the perimeter fence of the Armando Carnot playground, next to the Versalles bridge, was disappearing piece by piece due to systematic theft, with authorities failing to take action.
In Calle del Medio, a pedestrian artery of the Historic Center declared a National Monument, thefts and acts of vandalism persist despite the regime approving Specific Urban Regulations in March, which the official newspaper Girón acknowledged "seem to be in a state of lethargy."
The General Lacret Morlot Bridge was reported in May for cracks, erosion, and invasive vegetation, and a leader promised repairs that have not been realized.
The theft of metallic materials from public infrastructure is widespread across Cuba. Supreme Court Ruling 475, in effect since May 2025, categorizes these acts as sabotage, carrying penalties ranging from seven to 30 years, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty in aggravated cases.
However, its application has focused on the national electric system, and there is no evidence that vandalism against bridges has been framed within that legal framework.
The deterioration of Matanzas' heritage is not limited to its bridges. In early August, a new ambulance was stoned in Cárdenas while transporting a patient, in an episode that generated outrage on social media. In Matanzas, only 16 of the 54 necessary ambulances are operational, less than a third of the required fleet.
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