Building collapse in Old Havana leaves at least one person injured
HAVANA, June 19 A partial collapse in a building in Old Havana left at least one person injured who had to be transported to receive medical attention, according to witness reports on social networks.The incident occurred around midnight, in the property marked with number 427 on Monte Street, between Águila and Ángeles, in the municipality of Old Havana, known for the deterioration of its buildings.
A note published by the Council of Administration (CAM) of the aforementioned territory confirmed the fact, although this version states that “there were no injuries or human losses.”
According to the governing body, the accident occurred when the circulation corridor in the building collapsed, and firefighters and forces from the Ministry of the Interior were sent to the scene. Likewise, the CAM of Old Havana indicated that the main authorities of the municipality also went to the place.
Meanwhile, images circulating on social networks suggest that there was at least one person injured.
The photographs taken by neighbors and the available videos not only show two trucks and other fire vehicles and rescue teams that arrived to try to evacuate people but also a young woman being put into a patrol car to be transferred to a hospital.
Eyewitnesses claimed that she was the young mother of two children and that she appeared to be unconscious at the time she was taken to the police car.
Photos: CAM Old Havana – Facebook
An Internet user identified as Iroel Ricardo, who claimed to have been the firefighter who transferred the girl to the patrol, clarified the issue of the injured girl on social networks.
“The girl fainted as a result of a vagal crisis practically in front of me, I proceeded to evacuate her to a safe area where I gave her first aid and when she did not react I decided to have her transferred to the nearest hospital and as quickly as possible, That’s why I put her on the patrol car,” he said.
Likewise, he clarified that the young woman who fainted is in perfect health, “it was just a vagal crisis resulting from fright.”
Collapses in Havana continue to be frequent, amid the shortage of resources and financing that prevents the island from effectively facing the housing crisis.
Meanwhile, the National Housing Plan, championed by Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel himself about 6 years ago, aimed to solve the problem within a decade.
The reality, however, is far from what is outlined on paper, because while Cuba invests hundreds of millions of dollars in new hotels, at least 30 percent of its houses are evaluated as being in fair or poor condition.
