The severe water crisis affecting many neighborhoods in Havana resulted in a household accident for Jessenia Massola Sablón, the daughter of the late Cuban actor Carlos Massola. She reached out for public assistance after the floor of her home caved in while the family was digging a makeshift well to combat the prolonged water shortage.
The incident took place on July 25 in a residence located in the Mirador del Diezmero neighborhood, part of the San Miguel del Padrón municipality.
In a video shared on Facebook through her father's account, Jessenia explained that her family decided to dig a well in their kitchen due to a prolonged lack of drinking water—a situation faced by many local residents.
Although they successfully reached water, the excavation weakened the adjoining room's structure. While attempting to fix her mother's bed, Jessenia stepped on the floor tile, which gave way beneath her.
"I literally stepped on a tile and fell through the floor. I got up not understanding what had happened, with my leg bleeding," she recounted.
Despite sustaining injuries, she managed to escape on her own but was deeply affected by the realization that the hole appeared right where her mother sleeps.
"The tile that fell is where my mom sleeps. If it had been her, I wouldn't have been able to get her out. At least I'm young. I came out scratched, injured, bleeding, but I got out," she said, visibly moved.
She further explained that the structural damage worsened after the collapse.
"My little house is falling apart. I never thought the room's floor would collapse with me inside. Right now, I'm at risk of having half my house fall apart," she warned.
Desperation Leads to Risky Measures
Jessenia emphasized that digging the well wasn't a choice, but a desperate measure due to the lack of water.
"Since there's no water here, it seems like it's never coming back. Neighbors were digging wells, and we tried as well," she explained.
Locals informed them that the water vein ran under the kitchen. They found the resource they needed, but the price was the partial collapse of their home.
Constant Struggles in La Habana
This case highlights the struggles faced by residents of Mirador del Diezmero, where in recent weeks, neighbors have reported water outages lasting several days and power cuts of up to 28 consecutive hours. The scarcity has forced many families to dig makeshift wells to ensure supply.
Jessenia Massola is no stranger to publicly denouncing the challenges her family faces. After her father, actor Carlos Massola, passed away in July 2024, she shared how the funeral car took nearly seven hours to arrive, and the body was only transported with the help of firefighters.
The deterioration of housing remains one of Havana's most critical issues. The capital experiences around a thousand collapses each year and holds more than 185,000 properties in poor condition, amidst a national housing deficit exceeding 800,000 homes.
Given the severity of the damage, Jessenia appealed for support from those who can assist in repairing her home and asked for her story to be shared.
"To everyone who can even just share the video, I would be immensely grateful," she expressed.
Understanding the Water Crisis in Havana
What caused the floor collapse in Jessenia Massola's house?
The floor collapsed due to the structural weakening caused by digging a makeshift well in the kitchen, which was a desperate measure to combat the lack of water supply.
Why did the Massola family decide to dig a well?
The family dug a well as a last resort after facing prolonged water shortages, a problem affecting many residents in their neighborhood.
What broader issues does this incident highlight?
This incident underscores the severe housing and infrastructure problems in Havana, where thousands of properties are in disrepair and residents face frequent water and power outages.