A sewage leak that had been contaminating and causing inconveniences in Santiago de Cuba for more than a week, and where children were playing, was finally repaired this Tuesday by the local government following a complaint shared on social media.
Journalist Yosmany Mayeta highlighted on Facebook that “bringing the truth to light in a timely manner prevents a problem from escalating,” emphasizing the importance of using social media to denounce the regime's inaction.
“Yesterday it was posted, and today they are already addressing an issue reported over a week ago,” he noted, pointing out that the leak was located on Independencia Street, between 4th and 5th, in the Reparto Sueño neighborhood.
This Monday, the journalist reported on social media that some children were playing near a sewage leak. Despite being just meters away from the Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital, the regime had not taken prompt measures to resolve the issue.
According to Mayeta, the complainant indicated that the breakage had been reported several days earlier, but the regime showed no interest, ignoring that children were playing on a street flooded with sewage water.
Additionally, residents alerted that the directors of the Aguas Santiago Water and Sewer Company seemed to ignore the severity of the situation, failing to consider that both the Provincial Hospital and the Cardiocenter are nearby, facilities that should be protected from this kind of contamination.
Complaints about unattended blockages by the government of Santiago de Cuba are increasingly frequent, causing sewage water to continue posing a constant health risk to the population.
Last June, some residents of Santiago de Cuba reported living for more than a month with a blockage in the sewage register of their building. The journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada revealed on Facebook that the infuriating situation occurred in Building 2 on Carretera de Punta Gorda, in the Nuevo Van Van neighborhood, within the Altamira popular council.
The same situation was reported in May when the Diario de Cuba portal published a video on Facebook showing a huge trench open in the middle of the street, with several dozen meters in length, from which black water was emerging.
Addressing Sewage Issues in Santiago de Cuba
Given the recurring problems with sewage leaks and blockages in Santiago de Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers about the situation.
Why are sewage leaks a recurrent problem in Santiago de Cuba?
Sewage leaks are recurrent due to poor maintenance and the regime’s inaction in addressing infrastructure issues promptly.
How long did the recent sewage leak remain unaddressed?
The recent sewage leak in Reparto Sueño remained unaddressed for more than a week before the local government took action.
What role did social media play in resolving the issue?
Social media played a crucial role in resolving the issue by drawing attention to the problem and pressuring the local government to take action.