On Wednesday, Cuban authorities confirmed that the individuals trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed secondary school in Remedios, Villa Clara, hail from Caibarién, a neighboring municipality located in the northern part of the province.
The state-run agency ACN reported at 10:11 PM that rescue operations were still ongoing at the Escuela Secundaria Básica en el Campo (ESBEC) after a partial structural collapse, with no significant changes in the situation up to that time.
Family members of those trapped—whose exact number remains uncertain—gathered at the site of the collapse, anxiously awaiting news.
According to the state media, rescue teams at the scene were in communication with one of the individuals trapped under the rubble, enabling continuous assistance as clearing efforts progressed in the affected area.
The scene was attended by the relatives of the victims, keeping a close watch on the rescue operations, along with top political and governmental leaders from the province and municipality, accompanied by representatives from Caibarién.
Specialized forces operated in coordination with the healthcare system, which, according to ACN, "ensured that all resources for immediate care were activated."
The collapse occurred in a structure preliminarily identified as the former ESBEC No. 1, commonly known as "La 1," on the road to Rojas. Among the technical resources deployed were drones used to locate those trapped under the debris, a technique employed in Cuba since the Saratoga Hotel explosion in Havana in 2022.
Susely Morfa González, the secretary of the Communist Party's Provincial Committee in Villa Clara, visited the site and initially estimated that about three people were inside the building at the time of the collapse, though that figure was noted as subject to change.
Unverified social media reports suggested up to 14 people might be trapped, with two bodies recovered, though these figures have not been confirmed by authorities.
The collapse in Remedios is part of a broader pattern of structural decay in Cuba's educational infrastructure, documented across multiple provinces.
In August 2024, a partial collapse occurred at a primary school in Arroyo Naranjo, Havana, and after Hurricane Melissa in November 2025, more than 270 schools were affected in Guantánamo, with four suffering total collapses. Many of these buildings are decades old and have lacked systematic maintenance.
Authorities reiterated that "the priority remains ensuring the safety of rescuers and the saving of lives."
Understanding the Remedios School Collapse
What caused the building collapse in Remedios?
The collapse is part of a broader issue of structural decay in Cuban educational facilities, many of which have not received proper maintenance over the years.
How are rescue operations being conducted?
Rescue teams are using drones to locate individuals trapped under the debris, allowing them to coordinate their efforts effectively.
What is the current status of those trapped?
Authorities are in contact with one trapped individual, and efforts to clear the debris and rescue others are ongoing.