Funeral services in the province of Santiago de Cuba are experiencing a severe crisis, adding to the agony of grieving families at the crucial moment of bidding farewell to a loved one, according to reports on social media this Wednesday. Santiago resident Yanelis Rodríguez Semanat shared with independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta the ordeal she faced on Tuesday due to the inadequacy of these services in Santiago de Cuba following the death of her aunt.
Mayeta posted this complaint on Facebook, revealing that the main funeral home in the area was overwhelmed with 29 deceased individuals, whose coffins were placed in hallways and even on chairs meant for mourners during wakes.
Rodríguez recounted that her aunt passed away at 3:20 PM on Monday at the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico, but due to paperwork, the autopsy, and the transfer of the body, they did not arrive at the funeral home until 9:00 PM. "The vehicles being used for transfers are trucks or 'pisicorres' because the hearses are broken, have no brakes, and even lose the bodies," Rodríguez warned, highlighting a dire situation that, though extraordinary, has happened multiple times on the streets of Santiago de Cuba.
According to Rodríguez, they were placed in Room I2 at the funeral home, but due to a lack of space, they were left in the hallway: "The dead are even in the hallways," lamented the Santiago native.
Rodríguez described the ordeal they experienced at the funeral home: a lack of seating, a shortage of flowers for wreaths, and the few available were dried up. Additionally, the cafeteria service was deficient, with no gas to make coffee, which was no longer served in the rooms as was customary, forcing them to go to the cafeteria if coffee was available.
The distressing situation continued the next day, when it was time to bury her relative: "In the morning, we still didn't know where they were going to bury my aunt. There were five unclaimed bodies, waiting for calls from the cemeteries to allocate spaces."
According to her account, at 7:00 AM, during the shift change, she attempted to get information about where her aunt would be buried. The explanation was shocking: "There were 21 dead and two more at home that needed to be collected. By 10:00 AM, there were already 29 deceased," she noted.
Ultimately, due to the lack of capacity to accept new burials at the Santa Ifigenia and El Caney cemeteries, Rodríguez had to bury her relative in a cemetery in Playa Siboney, almost 20 kilometers from the city center.
The crisis in funeral services in Santiago de Cuba is evident in the numerous complaints people post on social media. This week, a man living alone in the city died, and his body remained in his home for nearly 24 hours before authorities arrived to collect it.
Residents of Calle Diego Velázquez in the historic center reported the situation on social media, generating outrage among the community's residents.
Understanding the Funeral Crisis in Santiago de Cuba
The ongoing funeral crisis in Santiago de Cuba has raised many questions among the community. Here, we address some of the most pressing concerns regarding this situation.
Why are funeral services in Santiago de Cuba overwhelmed?
Funeral services are overwhelmed due to the lack of resources, broken hearses, and insufficient space in funeral homes and cemeteries. This situation has been exacerbated by the high number of deaths and inadequate infrastructure.
What challenges are families facing due to this crisis?
Families are facing numerous challenges, including delays in transferring bodies, overcrowded funeral homes, lack of proper seating and floral arrangements, and difficulties in securing burial plots in local cemeteries.
How are residents of Santiago de Cuba responding to this issue?
Residents are expressing their outrage and frustration on social media, sharing their personal experiences and calling for urgent action to address the deficiencies in funeral services.