Bridges of Love Project in solidarity with Cuba after building collapse

We offer our willingness to help our people at every moment, especially in times of difficulty,” activist Carlos Lazo, coordinator of the group, told Prensa Latina.

The Cuban professor based in Seattle explained via WhatsApp that in just two hours, through an Internet initiative, members of “the patriotic emigration donated $610 to the channel, which will be used to help the victims” of this tragedy.

Lazo highlighted the value of the actions and the speed with which everyone responded when they learned of what had happened.

In the early morning of October 4, a building located on Lamparilla Street, in the capital’s municipality of Old Havana, collapsed.

According to Cuban Interior Ministry authorities, 13 families lived in the building, with 54 people who were evacuated.

A first collapse was followed in a short time by a second collapse that surprised the firefighters working at the site, which caused two rescuers to lose their lives when they were buried by the rubble.

On his X account, formerly Twitter, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his sorrow for the death of two young rescuers during rescue work after the tragedy.

“Very painful to confirm the death of two young rescuers while assisting those affected in the collapse of a building in Old Havana: Yoandra and Luis Alejandro,” wrote the Cuban president.

The deceased were identified as Yoandra Suarez, 40, a rescue and salvage technician, and Luis Alejandro Llerena, 23, a professional rescuer.