A portion of the metal railings from one of Matanzas's historic bridges has been removed, as highlighted by the Facebook page Ciudad de Matanzas en Fotos, which shared a photo of the damage to the bridge's decorative, historically styled structure.
The images reveal the affected section, part of railings with geometric hexagonal and rhomboid designs, painted in a bluish-gray hue, with the missing part clearly visible.
The bridge's anti-slip metal grid flooring and the intensely green water flowing beneath paint a picture of neglect that has become all too common in the so-called City of Bridges.
Details on which specific bridge was targeted, the exact timing of the incident, and whether any culprits have been identified or apprehended remain unknown.
"They might take the columns next, which are city symbols," remarked user Mercedes Mercy Maa, who shared the images in the mentioned group.
Matanzas is home to between 17 and 29 bridges spanning the San Juan, Canímar, and Yumurí rivers, with at least five of them being centuries-old and recognized as Cuban engineering heritage. The Concordia Bridge, constructed in 1878, stands out as the most notable.
This event adds to a growing pattern of vandalism and apparent institutional inaction that has intensified in recent months across the province.
In May, the provincial TV station TV Yumurí reported the systematic theft of sections of the perimeter fence of the Armando Carnot children's park, located next to the Versalles Bridge, without any intervention from authorities.
On Calle del Medio, a pedestrian thoroughfare in the Historic Center declared a National Monument, thefts and vandalism persist despite the regime's approval of Specific Urban Regulations in March, which the official newspaper Girón admitted "seem to be in a state of dormancy."
In the same month, the General Lacret Morlot Bridge was reported for cracks, erosion, and invasive vegetation, and a leader promised repairs that have yet to materialize.
The theft of metal materials from public infrastructure is widespread throughout Cuba. Supreme People's Court Ruling 475, effective since May 2025, allows these acts to be classified as sabotage, punishable by seven to 30 years, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty in aggravated cases.
Nonetheless, enforcement has primarily focused on the national electrical system, with no records of bridge-related vandalism being prosecuted under this legal framework.
The degradation of Matanzas's heritage is not confined to its bridges. In early August, a new ambulance was pelted with stones in Cárdenas while transporting a patient, sparking outrage on social media. Matanzas operates only 16 out of the 54 ambulances needed, less than a third of the required fleet.
Key Questions about Vandalism in Matanzas
What is the current state of the bridges in Matanzas?
Many of the bridges in Matanzas are facing deterioration and vandalism, with several reports of missing metal railings and structural damage.
How many bridges does Matanzas have?
Matanzas is known for having between 17 and 29 bridges, with at least five being over a century old and considered part of Cuba's engineering heritage.
How is the Cuban government responding to vandalism?
Despite legal frameworks to classify such acts as sabotage, enforcement has been limited and focuses mainly on the electrical system, with little action taken against bridge vandalism.