English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
14ymedio, Havana, 3 August 2020 — The ceiling of the presbytery of the chapel of the Immaculate Conception in Havana, the mother house of the congregation of the Daughters of Charity, collapsed this Sunday afternoon. The church was empty, so there were no victims to regret. On Monday, several workers could still be seen inside … Continue reading “The Roof of the Church of the Daughters of Charity in Havana Collapses”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 28 July 2020 — Doing things well in Cuba is not just a matter of willpower. Daniel Llera’s family has been living with a mountain of rubble for more than a month in the garden of their house, on Calle 114 in Marianao, due to the lack of diligence of the local authorities. Since … Continue reading “Cuban Family Shares its House with the Rubble of a Building Collapse”
14ymedio, Havana, 24 July 2020 — María Magdalena Olivares Miller, age 68, is the second fatality in less than a week as a result of the collapse of a building in Havana. The victim was trapped when the building, located at 1061 Monte Street, between Fernandina and Romay, in the Havana municipality of Cerro, collapsed. … Continue reading “Woman Dies in Havana After Building Collapse”
14ymedio, Havana, 3 July 2020 — This week the roof of the building of the Partagás tobacco factory in Havana collapsed, a few yards from the Capitol building, according to the website Cigar aficionado. The property has been undergoing a restoration process since 2011 and houses the La Casa del Habano store on its ground floor. “The … Continue reading “Roof of the Partagas Tobacco Factory in Havana Collapses”
14ymedio, Havana, 5 October 2019 — The birthplace of renowned Cuban painter Wifredo Lam collapsed last Sunday in Sagua la Grande, Villa Clara, after heavy rains hit the central region of Cuba. The collapse of the home has generated many criticisms on social networks but no official statement. The property, located on Carmen Ribalta Street between Heredia … Continue reading “Birthplace of Cuban Painter Wilfredo Lam Collapses in Sagua la Grande”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 12 March 2019 — Yuderkis Pupo Garcia still spends her days between the shock of the first impact of the tornado and the anguish that causes the desire to return to normal. A resident of the building at 560 Juan Alonso street, between Infanzón and Juan Abreu, as of today she’s watched … Continue reading “Residents of a Havana Building in Ruins Await Official Response”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, February 14, 2019 — Diana Curbelo has spent 15 days sleeping in her neighbor’s entryway. She passes the hours seated on a red armchair that she has put out on the sidewalk of Teresa Blanco street and at nighttime she goes into the entryway to be under a roof. A resident … Continue reading “Building After the Tornado”
14ymedio, Havana, 13 April 2018 — The residents apartment building located at the central corner of 23rd and 12th in Havana’s Vedado district, are counting the days until they will return to their homes, six years after being evacuated, in March 2012, because of the collapse of the staircase. After a prolonged repair, the residents of the … Continue reading “Residents of Sarra Building to Return Home Six Years After Staircase Collapse”
EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 13 September 2017 — A total of 4,288 homes in Havana were damaged during the passage of the mighty Hurricane Irma, with 157 total collapses and 986 partial collapses, according to preliminary official reports published Wednesday in the island’s press. In the Cuban capital, the state newspaper Granma said there were … Continue reading “Irma Damaged 4,288 Houses In Havana, With 157 Total Collapses And 986 Partial Collapses”
14ymedio, Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, Havana, 18 April 2017 — About 120 people are trapped in a Central Havana building after the interior stairs to the apartments collapsed this morning. The property, located on Amistad and San Miguel Streets has been in danger of collapse for years due to lack of maintenance. A loud noise alerted neighbors … Continue reading “Over 100 People Trapped in Collapsed Building in Havana”
Photos by Camilo Ernesto Olivera Peidro HAVANA, Cuba , August, www.cubanet.org – The Arcos building is in the block formed by F and E, between 19 and 21 in Vedado. Everyone in Havana knows this unusual building built in the 1930s in the middle of one of the deepest ravines in Vedado. It’s bad state … Continue reading “The Arcos Building is Falling to Pieces / Camilo Ernesto Olivera Peidro”
The city of Havana is falling down rapidly. It is no secret. Every day, on average, at least one building collapses. In recent collapses people have been killed or injured. The authorities, when they have no remedy, because they occur in places too visible, report that the buildings were declared uninhabitable and the occupants refused … Continue reading “Collapses a la carte / Fernando Dámaso”
On the night of Tuesday January 17th, 2012, an uninhabitable but lived-in building at the corner of Infanta and Salud streets in Centro Habana collapsed, taking with it the lives of four teenagers. If the disaster had occurred on a side street, away from the capital’s busiest traffic, it is possible that only those of … Continue reading “A Lot More than a Building Collapse / Miriam Celaya”
The greatest effects, including severe damage to agriculture and electricity networks, were concentrated in the municipalities of El Cotorro, San Miguel, Arroyo Naranjo and Boyeros 14ymedio, Havana, April 24, 2024 — Once again, the Cuban Council of Ministers approved the financing for 50% of the cost of construction materials needed by the victims of the … Continue reading “Cuba Approves the Financing of Construction Materials for Victims of the March Rains in Havana”
14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 15 December 2023 – After the dearth of any official information or warnings prior to last weekend’s heavy rains, the Cuban authorities have been under pressure to put out warnings that this coming Saturday and Sunday there will be storms in the west of the country, and especially in Havana. … Continue reading “Flooded and Full of Rubbish, Havana Prepares Itself For More Storms this Weekend”
