A video shared by Rockie Perrie Guau on Facebook captures the current state of a once-bustling area in Cardenas, Matanzas, where the historic Café Plaza Malacoff used to thrive. This footage has sparked a wave of sorrow and longing among Cubans both on the island and abroad.
The visual decay of Cardenas is evident, with two and three-story buildings showing peeling paint and damaged walls. The streets are marred by deep cracks, potholes, exposed earth, and piles of debris and trash at the intersections.
The street appears almost deserted, save for a lone cart and a few figures in the distance, giving an eerie impression of a ghost town.
The video quickly garnered over 17,000 views and 167 comments, with reactions ranging from sadness over the neglect to fond memories of better days.
One user reminisced, "There used to be a Caracol store there. I loved shopping there." Another shared fond memories: "They used to sell delicious bread and pizza dough there. I'm not originally from Cardenas, but it's like my second home. Thank you for everything, Cardenas, beautiful city, wonderful people."
One netizen expressed hope amid sorrow: "How sad. I used to go there with my dad, uncle, and cousin whenever I visited Cuba. We always had a good time sharing beers. It will get better soon."
The most shared sentiment was captured in this comment: "Cardenas is ruined, only memories remain of a prosperous and shining city, but one day it will rise from the ashes."
The Broader Impact of Urban Decay
The deterioration shown in the images is not an isolated event nor solely due to urban neglect. People are grappling with increasing poverty at both societal and individual levels.
Recently, it was observed that retirees in Cardenas endure long lines at banks to collect pensions of merely 4,000 Cuban pesos, approximately nine dollars, as documented by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights in November 2025.
This same organization estimates that 89% of the Cuban population lives in extreme poverty, with elderly individuals being the most affected.
In December 2025, the province of Matanzas, where Cardenas is located, experienced power outages lasting up to 30 continuous hours, with families receiving just one or two hours of electricity per day.
Nationwide Pattern of Neglect
This pattern of abandonment is echoed in other Cuban cities. In April of this year, the historical gem of Holguin was documented in ruins, with the 19th-century train station turned into a dumping ground for garbage and debris.
Other iconic sites share a similar fate: an abandoned location in Boca Ciega was documented in June 2025, serving as yet another example of the relentless urban collapse spreading across the island.
Cardenas, known as the "Flag City" because General Narciso Lopez first raised the lone star Cuban flag there on May 19, 1850, was also a pioneer in public electric lighting in Cuba, inaugurated in 1889.
Today, the city that marked so many firsts in Cuban history appears in Rockie Perrie Guau's images as a silent testament to the neglect inflicted by the regime on its own cities.
Understanding the Crisis in Cardenas
What sparked the recent concern over Cardenas?
A video shared on Facebook showing the severe urban decay in Cardenas, including deteriorating buildings and deserted streets, has sparked concern and nostalgia among Cubans.
How does the urban decay in Cardenas reflect broader issues in Cuba?
The decay in Cardenas highlights the increasing poverty and neglect under Cuba's regime, with many citizens, especially the elderly, struggling with economic hardships and inadequate services.
What historical significance does Cardenas hold?
Cardenas is historically significant as the site where the Cuban flag was first raised in 1850, and it was among the first cities in Cuba to have public electric lighting.