The crisis in Cuba continues to produce bizarre scenes: in Santiago de Cuba, the same vehicle from the Correos de Cuba company, typically used for transporting packages, letters, magazines, and newspapers, is now being employed to carry coffins.
Journalist Yosmany Mayeta shared a reel on Facebook that captures this surreal situation, accompanied by a message: "From transporting mail packages to carrying coffins, this is what state transportation in Cuba has come to."
The video posted by the reporter shows the exact moment when the coffin is placed inside the Correos de Cuba vehicle.
Last May, Santiago de Cuba was the scene of another startling event: a coffin fell in the middle of the bustling Victoriano Garzón Avenue, near a daycare center and the provincial headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba.
In the same month, but in Bauta, Artemisa province, a Cuban family had to transport their deceased loved one in a tricycle to the cemetery due to the ongoing fuel shortage in the country.
In July, a Cuban woman reported the lack of coffins and transportation for a deceased relative in the town of La Estrella, in the Buey Arriba municipality, Granma province.
"My friends, please help me share this post. My uncle has been dead since yesterday. His body is already decomposing, it smells very bad, and there's no coffin or transportation to take him to be buried. Please help," wrote Olenmis, alongside a photo showing a body covered with a sheet and some flowers on top, seemingly in the doorway of a house.
The Impact of Cuba's Crisis on Funeral Services
The ongoing crisis in Cuba has led to unprecedented challenges in funeral services. Here are some frequently asked questions about the situation:
Why is a mail truck being used to transport coffins in Cuba?
Due to severe resource shortages and logistical issues, state transportation in Cuba has been repurposed for various needs, including funeral services.
What other unusual methods are being used for transporting the deceased in Cuba?
In addition to mail trucks, some families have had to resort to using bicycles, tricycles, and other makeshift means due to the lack of proper transportation and fuel shortages.
How has the Cuban government responded to these issues?
The Cuban government has been largely silent on these specific incidents, though they have acknowledged the broader economic and logistical challenges facing the country.