Flooding Strikes Guásimas in Cárdenas, Matanzas

In the aftermath of torrential rains overnight Friday into early Saturday, the Guásimas stream overflowed in Cárdenas, located in the Matanzas province, inundating several homes. Citizen journalist Christian Arbolaez was among the first to report on the situation, sharing images and firsthand accounts to highlight the extent of the damage.

A local resident who arrived on the scene at 8 a.m. shared his distressing observations with Arbolaez: "Everything is flooded. Water has entered the homes, reaching up to a meter in some. It's heartbreaking, brother. It’s shocking to see so many houses submerged." The images reveal streets completely submerged in murky brown water, leaning power poles, and modest homes showing clear signs of damage.

Severe Impact in Guásimas Neighborhood

The most significant impacts are concentrated in the Guásimas neighborhood, particularly on the street near the ETECSA minipoint, according to eyewitness accounts. Initial reports state that water levels inside some homes reached about a meter high, underscoring the severity of the flooding.

Arbolaez pointed out the additional concern over "the lack of maintenance of sewers and drainage systems," questioning, "How long must we wait for these issues to be addressed?" Around 9 a.m., a resident attempting to navigate the streets by bicycle described it as "nearly impossible" and blamed part of the issue on "excessive trash blocking the water's path."

Long-Standing Structural Issues

Comments on social media from residents highlight a deep-rooted structural problem. "The Guásimas stream has become a dumping ground," one user noted. Another mentioned that "the stream hasn’t been maintained for years," and many residents contribute to the flooding by dumping waste into it.

A long-time resident reminisced about a previous system where ditches ran "from Alturas de Varadero to the Guásimas stream and out to sea," which were regularly cleaned: "They were all covered up, ending the natural way to drain rainwater, and the consequences are evident."

The affected area is described by its residents as a "hole," a topographical depression that collects water when the stream floods. A local summed up the recurring pattern: "If it rains for two consecutive days [...] the stream fills up [...] and boom, that part of Guásimas floods." Another resident, who lived through the anxiety of the early hours on Saturday, expressed, "I thought I wouldn't make it," urging neighbors to clean the stream given the government's inaction.

Ongoing Challenges in Matanzas

This incident is not isolated. Matanzas province has seen several similar events throughout 2026: in September, torrential rains flooded the city center due to urban drainage failures, and earlier this month, a severe storm in Perico caused roofs to be torn off and streets to flood.

In August, an electrical failure at the Smith Comas well field left 70% of Cárdenas without water for three to four days, highlighting the vulnerability of basic services in the area.

The sanitation crisis in Matanzas has been well-documented. In May 2026, the provincial capital's Municipal Company of Communals had only 11 operational trucks, compared to the 24 or 25 it could deploy with support from other entities, according to its management. Fuel shortages further complicated waste collection, leading to the growth of illegal dumps.

With October marking the end of Cuba's rainy season, which spans from May to October, the threat of heavy rains and flash floods remains. In such circumstances, the accumulation of garbage in waterways and drainage systems poses an added risk for communities vulnerable to flooding, as seen in Guásimas, Cárdenas, if the stream becomes obstructed.