The Matanzas bus terminal, once a bustling transportation hub in the city, now stands completely devoid of vehicles in the middle of the afternoon, with not a single bus available for routes to destinations like Havana, Jabón, Colón, or Jovellanos.
Images captured by user Lenier Landa in a Facebook reel have sparked a wave of comments from Cubans reminiscing about what this space used to be.
"This is the afternoon at the Matanzas terminal, look at the number of cars, and a follower even commented that it wasn't due to the shortage of fuel," Landa says in the 29-second clip.
"I really didn't understand his comment, because there are no cars here for Havana, for Jabón, for Colón, for Jovellanos."
From Bustle to Stillness
The current scene starkly contrasts with what was historically one of the most active transportation nodes in the province. According to a 2017 report by Juventud Rebelde, the terminal once handled between 3,000 and 3,500 passengers daily, with 34 platforms in full operation.
The visible collapse in the video is a result of years of accumulated deterioration. By September 2025, only 63 of the 129 buses were operational in the province, a mere 48.8% of the available fleet.
A Transportation Crisis Deepens
By February 2026, transportation in Matanzas had come to a near standstill: just one daily departure on the Havana–Matanzas route, with no intermunicipal or urban routes available.
The root of the issue is the severe fuel shortage. In May 2026, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, openly admitted that Cuba had "absolutely no fuel oil, nor any diesel."
The United Nations acknowledged on August 6 that it was in contact with various countries to try to secure fuel for the island for humanitarian reasons, given the "serious shortage issues" the country faces.
Government and Private Sector Responses
The Ministry of Transportation responded to the crisis with successive cutbacks. Since June 18, national buses between Havana and provincial capitals reduced their daily frequency to three weekly departures, and trains to the east were limited to a round trip every 16 days.
With state transportation in short supply, the private sector has tried to meet some of the demand. In July, a private route from Matanzas to Havana began operating with a daily departure at 7:00 a.m., costing 3,000 pesos—an unaffordable price for most residents of Matanzas. A connection to Colón departs at 4:15 a.m. under the same pricing.
Infrastructure and Broader Implications
Adding to the woes, the physical terminal has been operating temporarily from the Central Railroad Terminal La Jaiba since October 5, 2025, as major repairs are carried out on the original building, which had severe issues with beams, roofs, and water systems.
To put the magnitude of the problem into perspective on a national scale, in Ciego de Ávila, by March 2026, only two out of 135 bus routes were operational, illustrating that Matanzas is not an exception but part of a widespread collapse of public transportation in Cuba.
Understanding Cuba's Public Transportation Crisis
What is causing the transportation crisis in Matanzas?
The crisis is primarily due to a severe shortage of fuel, which has left many buses inoperable and reduced the frequency of routes.
How has the private sector responded to the transportation issues?
The private sector has initiated some routes, such as a daily service from Matanzas to Havana, but the costs are prohibitive for many residents.
What measures have been taken by the Cuban government?
The government has cut back on the frequency of national bus and train services due to the fuel shortage.