A tragedy struck in El Vedado, Havana, as a man who was injured when his apartment balcony collapsed on Tuesday has passed away shortly after being admitted to the hospital. The deceased, Iván Ordaz, a 56-year-old engineer, had recently purchased the apartment and was in the process of renovating it. The residence was located on the third floor of a building on 1st Street.
Mario J. Pentón, a journalist from Martí Noticias, spoke with a family member who requested anonymity. "He was a wonderful individual, the main support for his mother and brother, who has special needs," the relative stated. "They took him to Calixto García Hospital, but there was nothing that could be done. He was a good man, and his family is devastated by this tragedy," they added.
Iván Ordaz was a father to three children residing in the United States, Canada, and Germany. Following the incident, a video capturing the immediate aftermath went viral on social media. It showed Ordaz lying among the debris, writhing in pain, and pleading not to be touched.
Neighborhood residents quickly sprang into action to assist, but Ordaz was in such agony that he couldn't move on his own. Building collapses are common in Old Havana and Central Havana, yet they have increasingly afflicted El Vedado, an area once renowned for its elegant mansions and lush, tree-lined streets.
In June, another balcony collapse injured three people when it fell onto the El Tablazo café located on 1st Street, between C and D. This incident underscores the growing concern over the structural integrity of buildings in Havana's historic districts.