A section of the roof at the Ismaelillo Theater in Holguín partially collapsed on the afternoon of May 20. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this latest incident of the rapid decline of cultural heritage in this eastern Cuban city.
Firefighters promptly arrived at the scene, using drone footage to assess the extent of the damage—a sight witnessed by several Holguín residents throughout the day, as reported by the official newspaper ¡Ahora! via its Facebook page.
The scene also drew the attention of key figures from the Communist Party and the provincial government, along with leaders from the Provincial Sector of Culture and the Provincial Council of Performing Arts. Specialists from the Engineering and Design Services Company Vértice confirmed that the building's walls remain structurally sound.
Roger Rodríguez Ramírez, director of the Eddy Suñol Cultural Complex, which includes the Ismaelillo Theater, revealed that only the central part of the auditorium was affected. The remaining sections of the roof will be removed in preparation for future reconstruction efforts.
Rodríguez noted that debris removal is already underway, alongside ongoing efforts to restore the roof of the Eddy Suñol Theater, which will celebrate its 87th anniversary on June 2.
"It's an enormous task, especially in these times, as it involves 1,050 square meters of roofing damaged by Hurricane Melissa," stated Rodríguez.
Situated on the corner of Maceo and Coliseo Streets, near the railway station, the Ismaelillo Theater is an Art Deco building previously known as the Victoria Theater, as recalled by Holguín locals.
The reaction on social media was swift and filled with outrage. Numerous users pointed to negligence and potential corruption in previous renovations.
"These two theaters underwent major repairs not so long ago, maybe eight years at most, and now the roof has collapsed. There's only one conclusion: it was either shoddy work or materials were stolen. Who's accountable for this? These were million-dollar expenditures," wrote Miguel Uribasterra.
Similar sentiments were echoed by others. "This is evidence that the resources allocated for the theater's reconstruction were embezzled," commented Sucel Rondón.
"Almost the entire roof collapsed, leaving only a small section at the front," described Lisandra Velazquez Santiesteban.
Holguín, often referred to as the Cuban City of Parks and regarded as one of the island's cleanest cities, has been experiencing a series of neglectful episodes that its residents bitterly describe. "Everything is being destroyed little by little," summarized Maidoli Rodríguez on Facebook.
This collapse is part of a series of heritage failures in Holguín. On May 16, the sculpture "La mujer con sombrilla" on the pedestrian boulevard fell after weeks of inaction from authorities.
Shortly before, the children's park "Los Caballitos" was demolished without a replacement plan, leaving the site as a dumping ground.
On the same Friday, it was also documented that the former Holguín-Gibara railway station, inaugurated in 1893, had become a dumping site for debris and rodents.
Collapse of Cultural Heritage Sites in Holguín
What caused the roof collapse at the Ismaelillo Theater?
The roof collapse is attributed to structural deterioration and possibly poor maintenance, exacerbated by previous renovations that may have involved quality issues or misappropriation of resources.
How has the local community reacted to the collapse?
The local community has expressed outrage and concern, blaming negligence and potential corruption as factors contributing to the collapse.
What are the next steps for the Ismaelillo Theater?
Efforts are underway to clear debris and prepare the theater for reconstruction, while ensuring the structural integrity of the building remains intact.