Two rescuers, a woman and a man, died today during rescue efforts after the collapse of a multi-family building in the municipality of Old Havana, in the Cuban capital.
Havana, Cuba.- According to the local press, Yoandra Suárez, 40, a rescue and technician, with more than 11 years in the job, lost her life; and Luis Alejandro Llerena, 23 years old, a professional rescuer.
The General Directorate of Health of Havana reported that Yoandra Suárez died due to asphyxiation, suffocation, and thoracoabdominal compression.
From the age of 16 she was a volunteer firefighter and worked as a teacher at the National Fire School, teaching classes in rescue and its techniques, Granma newspaper highlighted.
At this time, a search is underway in the rubble for Ramón Páez, 79, who was in the building at the time of the incident, and it was learned that the inclement weather is making rescue actions difficult.
According to what the head of the Cuban Fire Department, Luis Carlos Guzmán, informed the media, the duration of the work cannot be predicted, due to the care that it entails.
He clarified that two collapses occurred. After the first, forces arrived a few minutes later and managed to remove a man. Then, the second collapse occurred while the Salvage and Rescue technicians were already inside.
He explained that differentiated work has been done with the family members, they have been informed, and they are cared for by a multidisciplinary group of doctors.
Rescue Efforts Continue After a Building Collapses in Cuba
President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Wednesday that rescuers will work tirelessly to find the people trapped in the collapse of a multi-family building in Old Havana municipality in this capital.
On his account on X, former Twitter, the Cuban head of State noted that he remains attentive to the incident while regretting the death of two young rescuers.
“All help to those affected,” the head of State said.
The accident in the apartment building occurred early Wednesday, and two people are still trapped. As a precautionary measure, authorities ordered civilians to stay 15 meters away from the site, as the structure might collapse totally, local television reported.
According to reports, the rubble is being removed to improve access to the building, which is located at 362 Lamparilla Street, between Villegas Street and Aguacate Street, in Old Havana municipality.
Specialized forces from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), members of the public health system, and authorities from the provincial Communist Party and Government remain at the site.
Two people were injured and were taken to the Calixto García Hospital. They are reported out of danger.
On the X platform, the United Nations Mission in Cuba regretted the incident and expressed its solidarity with the victims and their families. (PL)
