A resident of the Plaza de la Revolución municipality in Havana set off community alarms by drilling a hole in the side wall of the Minrex building in Vedado, jeopardizing the structure's integrity. On the social media platform Facebook, user Leyla Gutiérrez López reported the incident, which took place on the eighth floor of a building erected in 1976, noting that the individual destroyed "the side of the building with a jackhammer, and that part is the concrete column of the building."
"No one says anything, no one protests, until there's a collapse and many people die," Gutiérrez stated, urging the Municipal Housing Directorate, Physical Planning, or the People's Power to take action. "Why is this allowed, and why don't non-corrupt inspectors intervene and stop this?" she questioned, emphasizing that the severity of this act on a supporting wall also "ruins the entire aesthetic."
Following Gutiérrez López's complaint, several neighbors supported her statement and joined in the denunciation due to the imminent risk of the building collapsing. "It is a load-bearing wall, and the building has been under a major repair file since 2014 with countless excuses and unfulfilled promises in various accountability meetings," noted Isabel Xalabarder.
Amid dozens of comments, an anonymous Facebook user claimed that "the relevant authorities have already been there, taken the appropriate measures, and the hole will be properly sealed."
Incidents like these illustrate "how legality is violated with total impunity, and the one responsible for enforcing it does not do their job," as expressed by Yarily Castro five years ago when the Ciego de Ávila resident reported the incompetence of officials from the Municipal Directorate of Physical Planning (DMPF) in a letter to the official media Juventud Rebelde.
A recent review of similar incidents reveals the population's dissatisfaction with the management of institutions related to the maintenance and care of housing stock, as well as those that enforce policies on neighborhood coexistence, amid a clear lack of civic awareness.
Community Concerns Over Building Safety in Havana
The recent incident in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality has raised several questions among the residents regarding building safety and the role of authorities. Here are some key questions and answers to understand the situation better.
What happened in the Minrex building in Vedado?
A resident drilled a hole in the side wall of the Minrex building, compromising its structural integrity and causing alarm among the community.
Who reported the incident?
Leyla Gutiérrez López reported the incident on Facebook, bringing attention to the potential dangers and urging authorities to take action.
What actions have been taken by the authorities?
An anonymous user mentioned that the relevant authorities have visited the site, taken necessary measures, and will seal the hole properly.
Why are residents concerned about the building's safety?
Residents are worried because the drilled wall is a load-bearing structure, and the building has been pending major repairs since 2014, with ongoing unfulfilled promises.