On Thursday, journalist Carlos Herrera Rodríguez took to social media to share distressing images that expose the blatant disregard for the deceased at Havana's Colón Cemetery. "They cut down the trees and dumped them over the graves," Herrera reported on Facebook, highlighting the neglect that has overtaken this cemetery.
"If there's no respect for the living, how can there be any for the dead?" the journalist questioned. The photos reveal that the trees’ leaves, now brown and withered, suggest the felling occurred several days ago, indicating that the issue has been ignored for some time.
Neglect and Vandalism at a Historic Site
This is not the first time images of the decaying state of Havana's most significant necropolis have circulated online. Recently, Facebook user Beatriz Alonso uncovered the appalling condition of the Panteón de Catalina Lasa y Juan Pedro Baró within Colón Cemetery. The shared photos depict severe damage from both neglect and vandalism affecting this iconic mausoleum.
The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that, according to Alonso, "Catalina and Juan Pedro's remains have been moved to the Panteón de los Emigrados."
Grim Discoveries Uncovered
Earlier this year, a Cuban visitor documented a trench filled with human bones left exposed to the elements in the cemetery. The user Tazmania Cubano posted a photo on the social media platform X, revealing the upsetting discovery made during a recent visit to Cuba's largest cemetery.