A Facebook video reveals a colossal pile of debris and garbage accumulated on a public street in Holguín, mere steps away from a youth computer club, an elementary school, and local food stalls.
Shared by user Javier Díaz, the brief 16-second clip quickly garnered over 14,600 views. It depicts an enormous heap of various waste materials, seemingly collected over several days, if not weeks, as nearby residents navigate around the trash as part of their daily routine.
“This is Holguín, at the entrance to the San Andrés exit,” Díaz noted when posting the video.
Health Risks Loom Near Educational Facilities
The location of this dump is especially concerning from a health perspective. The accumulation of waste adjacent to a school and food vendors creates ideal conditions for insects and rodents, which can spread diseases like dengue, chikungunya, leptospirosis, and hepatitis. At the close of 2025, Cuba reported at least 81,909 official dengue and chikungunya cases, with 65 deaths—an outbreak linked by The New York Times directly to the garbage crisis.
Holguín's Decline in Cleanliness
Holguín, once lauded for its cleanliness, has faced a steep decline over the years. Even state-run Radio Angulo headlined in late June: “Holguín, from one of the cleanest cities in Cuba to a landfill.”
The deterioration stems from unresolved structural issues within the government: the Communal Services Company operates with a severely inadequate number of garbage trucks, lacking spare parts and suffering from chronic staff shortages, all exacerbated by a fuel crisis.
Community Outcry and Makeshift Solutions
The city has witnessed a barrage of complaints. In July, a trash pile caught fire on a main road near the Alcides Pino neighborhood, prompting comparisons to a war zone. In May, content creator Ghabriel Pérez highlighted that the former site of the beloved Los Caballitos amusement park had turned into a dump.
Just last week, garbage blocked a street, threatening nearby food stalls. With no systematic waste collection, many residents resort to burning trash as a last resort, creating toxic clouds with respiratory and cardiovascular health impacts.
The government has yet to offer any solutions to restore regular waste collection services. Meanwhile, schools, daycare centers, parks, food stalls, central streets, and sports facilities coexist with uncontrolled dumps, leaving Holguín residents waiting for an answer that seems perpetually out of reach.
FAQ: Garbage Crisis in Holguín
What health risks are associated with the garbage pile near the school in Holguín?
The garbage pile poses significant health risks as it can lead to the proliferation of mosquitoes and rodents, which are vectors for diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, leptospirosis, and hepatitis.
Why has Holguín seen a decline in cleanliness?
The decline in cleanliness in Holguín is attributed to structural issues, including an insufficient number of garbage trucks, lack of spare parts, a chronic shortage of personnel, and a fuel crisis.