Building collapse in Havana's old town: at least three fatalities and two injuries

A residential building collapsed in Havana, the Cuban capital, late on Tuesday night local time. Three people were killed, including a 79-year-old resident who was found beneath the debris on Wednesday afternoon and two rescue workers who were conducting a search in the building when a subsequent collapse occurred. Moreover, at least two people were injured. This collapse is added to a series of disasters that have plagued the city's housing.

Old Havana remains a popular destination for tourists who capture images of its once-grand but now deteriorating houses. Furthermore, Havana is known for its historic structures, even if many of these are in a perilous state of disrepair. Last month, Cuba's housing minister said that approximately 850,000 homes throughout the Communist-controlled island required renovations. The shortage of suitable housing forces many families into buildings that are on the brink of collapse.

The inability of the government to secure the construction materials, is attributed to the economic embargo imposed on the island by the United States. While a national effort to construct new buildings was announced in 2018, critics argue that the focus has primarily been on hotels to attract tourists and generate revenue, rather than addressing the housing needs of locals.