A video released on social media this Thursday exposes the deplorable state of the Bernardo García funeral home on Zanja Street in Central Havana, encircled by heaps of trash, including what appears to be clothing from patients and deceased individuals. These piles of waste extend along the exterior wall facing Belascoaín Street.
The footage, shared via the Facebook account of Liena López Delgado, reveals the building's severe deterioration, with crumbling walls, missing windows, and graffiti sprawling across much of its facade.
"What a mess, right next to the funeral home," commented the voiceover, pointing out the presence of "even patients' clothing" among the debris, while questioning the neglect of the facility.
López was blunt about the grim scene, stating, "There's no shame anymore," and noted that "even clothing from the deceased" had been dumped there.
The reactions to the video express the shock felt by viewers. "Not even the dead are respected," one person remarked.
Another described Havana metaphorically as "a corpse under the sun," while someone else succinctly put it: "We're living in a garbage dump."
Widespread Crisis in Cuba's Funeral Services
The crisis extends beyond this Central Havana location. Throughout 2026, there have been reports of burials in cardboard coffins, bodies transported in ox-drawn carts, waits of 12 to 14 hours for burials, and the suspension of interments at Vicente García Cemetery in Las Tunas due to lack of space.
Activist Lara Crofs recently declared Cuba's necrological services system as "completely collapsed."
The landfill next to Zanja Funeral Home further illustrates the deterioration of a service that, even at life's end, faces the harsh realities of the ongoing crisis.
Havana's Waste Management Struggles
In April 2024, an investigation by the independent Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press (Iclep) documented broken windows, peeling paint, and stains at the facility.
A Necrological Services official from Central Havana acknowledged that maintaining the funeral home required "resources that simply aren't available right now."
The accumulation of waste around the funeral home occurs against a backdrop of a city grappling with a garbage collection crisis. Early this year, only 44 out of Havana's 106 garbage collection trucks were operational, representing just 41% of the fleet, while the capital produces between 24,000 and 30,000 cubic meters of solid waste daily.
Despite the capital's authorities introducing 20 trucks and over 240 Chinese-made containers through an investment exceeding a million euros, they admitted these efforts are "not a definitive solution."
The persistence of makeshift dumps in densely populated areas underscores the enormity of the issue.
Health Concerns Amidst Sanitation Decline
The worsening sanitary conditions are particularly alarming amid a complex epidemiological situation. The Global Dengue Observatory reports 7,133 dengue cases in Cuba so far this year, 7.4 times higher than expected. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health has acknowledged a rise in dengue, diarrhea, and other illnesses.
Understanding Havana's Sanitation Crisis
What is the current state of waste management in Havana?
Havana faces a severe waste management issue, with only 44 of its 106 garbage trucks operational, resulting in significant delays and accumulation of waste across the city.
How is the funeral service crisis affecting Cuban citizens?
The crisis has led to burials in inadequate conditions, such as using cardboard coffins and ox-drawn carts for transport, with long delays and suspended services due to lack of capacity.
What health risks are associated with Havana's sanitary issues?
The unsanitary conditions contribute to a rise in diseases such as dengue, diarrhea, and other illnesses, exacerbating the public health crisis in Cuba.