The Vicente García Cemetery, the main burial ground in Las Tunas, has halted all burials in its state-owned areas starting this week, without a clear resumption date. This decision comes as a result of an unresolved collapse that has persisted for eight years, with local authorities acknowledging their inability to address the issue due to insufficient resources.
Dulce María Zayas Rodríguez, Deputy Director of Funeral Services in Las Tunas, confirmed this development to Periódico 26. She highlighted that the situation worsened significantly in November and December of 2025, when the city experienced an unusually high number of deaths, exceeding the typical daily average of eight or nine.
"The situation at Vicente García is extremely complicated; there are no available spaces for new vaults. We are currently repairing the wall to move the ossuaries of those long in temporary niches, and even with these measures, it's not enough," she elaborated.
Zayas Rodríguez further explained that "exhumations of those who died in 2024 are underway, a necessary process. It's important for the public to understand that these remains will remain at the cemetery, though most will still be in temporary spaces."
She mentioned plans to relocate burials to the Becerra Cemetery to offer the best possible conditions amid the profound grief of loss. "We are investing all that we can manage," she stated.
"Currently, we are reaching out to many families to arrange pending exhumations. Some people leave their deceased and forget everything. While we have the legal authority to perform exhumations at our discretion, it doesn't seem fair," she added.
The absence of a local crematorium in Las Tunas, the only province in Cuba without one, further exacerbates the pressure on funeral facilities and leaves families with fewer options amidst the state cemetery's collapse.
"It's a complex issue. The incinerator was to be located near where the city plans its new cemetery. The project was 47 percent complete but was neglected. Equipment was installed but security and oversight failed," Danicely Velázquez Martínez, Deputy Provincial Director of Funeral Services, told Periódico 26.
Due to "several thefts," the project is now only 15 percent complete. "Many components of the civil work were taken, and even the boiler was removed. Several individuals have been arrested over this," the official added.
Vicente García isn't the sole cemetery among Las Tunas' 65 facing such issues. Several others, including those in Puerto Padre, particularly the one in the city center, and the cemetery at the entrance to Chaparra in the Jesús Menéndez municipality, are also overwhelmed.
According to Periódico 26, while the Chaparra cemetery has land available for expansion, there are no funds for such work at present. Meanwhile, the main cemetery in Puerto Padre has land approved for expansion but lacks the necessary financing.
This crisis is not unique to Las Tunas. In recent months, other cemeteries across Cuba have shown signs of systemic collapse: Camagüey's cemetery had more than 20 stacked coffins, and Mayabe Cemetery in Holguín displayed broken niches with bones exposed to the elements.
In Havana, the situation is equally dire, as reports have surfaced of human remains abandoned like debris at the Colón Cemetery, illustrating the widespread neglect of funeral services across Cuba.
The deterioration extends to transport services as well: a coffin fell from a funeral car onto a public road, and a family in Holguín had to make a makeshift cardboard coffin due to a shortage of available caskets, incidents highlighting the depth of the crisis.
All of this unfolds amid a critical demographic scenario: Cuba has a mortality rate of 12.9 per thousand inhabitants, the highest in Latin America, further straining an already underfunded and neglected funeral infrastructure.
Understanding the Crisis in Cuban Cemeteries
Why has the Vicente García Cemetery stopped burials?
Burials at the Vicente García Cemetery have been suspended due to a structural collapse that has remained unresolved for eight years. The local authorities lack the necessary resources to address this issue effectively.
What alternatives are being provided for burials in Las Tunas?
Burials are being redirected to the Becerra Cemetery as a temporary solution. Authorities are also conducting exhumations and utilizing temporary spaces within the Vicente García Cemetery.
What challenges do funeral services in Las Tunas face?
Las Tunas faces multiple challenges including the lack of a local crematorium, limited space in existing cemeteries, and inadequate resources for maintaining and expanding funeral facilities.