Yirmara Torres Hernández, who once led the Union of Cuban Journalists (UPEC) in Matanzas, has taken to social media to highlight a dire water shortage affecting her neighborhood, Los Mangos. For nearly two months, not a single drop has reached her block or nearby areas, while water is wasted on the streets due to leaks.
In a pointed message, Torres Hernández directly addressed Cuba's Presidency and Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman, demanding answers. "To be precise, my block and those surrounding it haven't seen a drop of water in almost two months," she expressed.
The journalist shared a video showing water gushing down Compostela Street, near the Pediatric Hospital, in constant leaks, while residents in higher areas remain without supply. "The water being pumped doesn't reach my home, nor that of countless others in Matanzas," she remarked in a follow-up post, sarcastically adding, "Should we wait for the blockade to be lifted?"
Torres Hernández pointed out several potential reasons for the shortage: a closed valve, leaks obstructing distribution, or possibly deliberate sabotage. Before this recent dry spell, water arrived every 10 days, sometimes every 21, and often only reached low-lying taps or a corner hose. She notes that some areas in Matanzas have gone over a year without water.
"Enough is enough. It's unsustainable to constantly pay for water trucks," she lamented, vividly describing the hardship: "It's heartbreaking to see elderly women pushing boxes with water jugs uphill, and old men with makeshift carts."
She also warned of the health risks posed by the water shortage: "Hepatitis? No, it's not just Hepatitis; we might catch the bubonic plague in this reality."
Her stark conclusion was, "In many areas of Matanzas, we don't just seem like we're in the third world... we feel like we're in the underworld."
This complaint isn't an isolated incident. Data from April 2026 indicates that over 300,000 residents in Matanzas face unstable water supplies, with more than 29,000 of the 518,000 receiving piped water suffering ongoing shortages due to network failures.
A staggering 87% of Cuba's water supply system relies on the National Electric System, meaning every power outage halts pumping operations. These outages have cut pumping times to just 2-4 hours daily, far below the 16 hours required, according to May 2025 data on Matanzas' water supply collapse.
Torres Hernández has previously broken away from her institutional role to highlight these issues. In March 2026, she described the blackouts as psychological torture, citing outages of 32, 24, and 26 consecutive hours. In September 2025, she reported an outbreak of arbovirosis in Matanzas and alleged unreported deaths, leading to censorship from Radio 26, the state media outlet she is associated with.
In April 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Chapman met with Waterworks officials but failed to provide concrete solutions or timelines. The only structural response was the planned construction of a new well over 20 meters deep with a submersible pump delivering 100 liters per second, with no set execution date.
Understanding the Water Crisis in Matanzas
What are the main causes of the water crisis in Matanzas?
Potential causes include closed valves, leaks preventing distribution, and possibly intentional actions disrupting supply. Additionally, the dependency on the National Electric System means power outages severely impact water pumping.
How does the water shortage affect daily life in Matanzas?
Residents face the constant burden of purchasing water from trucks, and there are significant health risks due to lack of hygiene, as well as the physical strain on the elderly who struggle to transport water.
What measures are authorities taking to address the crisis?
The government has proposed building a new well with a submersible pump as a structural response, but there is no timeline for its completion. Meetings with officials have yet to produce concrete solutions or schedules.