The cemetery of the city of Cárdenas, in the province of Matanzas, is in a state of extreme disrepair: open vaults, uncontrolled vegetation, remains of coffins scattered on the ground, and bones exposed to the elements. Residents also report frequent thefts of railings and funeral offerings. The publication highlights complaints about the neglect of the site.
The images and testimonials were shared by the Cuban communicator Christian Arbolaez on "Cardenenses on Facebook". The post includes photographs showing deteriorated vaults, abundant vegetation, and remnants exposed to the elements.
"There are places where one expects to find peace, silence, and respect. The cemetery of Cárdenas should be one of them, but the images show a very different reality. Walking through its paths has become a true adventure among the underbrush and grass that nearly obscures people. And the worst part is not precisely the lack of cleanliness," said Arbolaez.
"During the tour, open vaults, broken tombstones, exposed bones, and abandoned coffins can be seen among the vegetation. One of the visitors to the site claims to have found a box with a nylon from which a liquid was oozing, giving off an unbearable smell. We don’t know what it contained, but the photographs show significant deterioration," he stated.
"The saddest thing is that behind every grave there is a story, a family, and someone who deserves respect. A cemetery cannot become an abandoned mountain where human remains are left exposed to the elements. We are not asking for luxury, movie-set gardens, or marble monuments. We are demanding cleanliness, maintenance, and a minimum of dignity. Because in Cuba, abandonment follows people throughout their lives, and as these images show, it doesn't even end when they die," he pointed out.
The comments from the neighbors reflect their outrage at the neglect, although they make it clear that the situation goes beyond the cemetery.
"What a sadness, Cárdenas is in total neglect; they should dismiss the government workers, party members, and everyone who does nothing for the city, unless someone from above comes to visit," wrote a user.
Another commentator expressed: "My God, not even after death can one rest in peace in that Cuba."
One of the most disturbing testimonies came from an anonymous group member, who recounted being a victim of stalking by individuals who monitor mourners to rob them.
"I know that every time a mourner arrives with something, they keep an eye on them to steal whatever you bring. They have taken everything from the railings to any offering you leave; you go back the next day and it's already gone. They even hover nearby, pretending to be interested in another grave, just to see what you leave. It happened to me, and I didn’t say anything because it scared me," said the internet user.
The mausoleum to the martyrs of independence, considered the first erected in Cuba in honor of the mambises and housing the remains of 238 combatants from the Cárdenas Brigade who fell in the War of Independence, was exposed to looting in May 2026 following the theft of its protective railing.
Similar complaints in other cemeteries in Cuba
The case of Cárdenas is part of a national phenomenon documented in multiple provinces. In November 2025, the General Cemetery of Camagüey recorded more than 20 coffins piled up in hallways, open vaults, and exposed human remains.
The state-owned company Comunales responded that it was working on the "organization and transformation" of the venue, but did not provide specific solutions.
In September 2026, residents of Guáimaro reported the theft in a family vault at their cemetery, with photographs showing peeling paint, cracks, overgrown vegetation, and a complete lack of supervision.
In February 2026, the municipal cemetery of Mayabe, in Holguín, was reported for its state of desecration and abandonment, with broken niches and visible skeletal remains.
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