The family of a young man known as El Tosco, who went fishing off the coast of Eastern Havana on Saturday night, is urgently pleading for assistance to locate him. His wife, Thalia Zaldívar Domínguez, has shared her desperate appeal in various Facebook groups dedicated to fishing or residents in the eastern areas of the Cuban capital.
"My husband, known by his nickname 'El Tosco,' has been missing for three days after going fishing on Saturday from the coast [off] Eastern Havana near Playa del Chivo," Zaldívar stated in her social media post, accompanied by a photo of the missing man and the makeshift boat made of polystyrene he used to go out to sea.
The woman implored fellow fishermen for help: "If you see a rustic boat like the one in the photo, please report it to Maritime Captaincy 107 or PNR 106. If you could share this, I would be very grateful. I am desperate."
In the comments on one of the shared posts, user Nahomy Velázquez mentioned, "The coast guards, Maritime Captaincy, and the vessels along the Cuban coast are all aware and searching for him, but still nothing. Today marks 48 hours since his disappearance."
Several people noted in the posts that weather conditions were unsuitable for fishing this past weekend, as tropical storm Debby had recently formed near the Cuban coast, threatening torrential rains and coastal flooding.
"Late Saturday night, I was with my husband on the Malecón of Cojímar, and we saw a small fishing boat with two people in the distance... the sea was very rough. We said: it takes a lot of courage to be out there with the sea so choppy... God willing, he is found safe and sound," wrote one user.
In January, two fishermen—a man and a child—from Cienfuegos were rescued alive after being missing for five days at sea. After going fishing, strong waves and intense wind dragged their boat, leaving them adrift until they landed on Cayo Cigua, south of the Matanzas province, where they were found.
In late December, a 25-year-old fisherman, David Castro Castillo, disappeared from a beach in Santiago de Cuba. His wife, Anurgis Pérez Ferrer, criticized the authorities for not rescuing him in time.
In a rural community in the Vertientes municipality of Camagüey, two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, drowned while fishing in a river.
FAQs on the Missing Fisherman Incident in Eastern Havana
Here are some frequently asked questions about the recent disappearance of a young fisherman off the coast of Eastern Havana.
When did the young man go missing?
He went missing on Saturday night after going fishing off the coast of Eastern Havana.
What was the weather like during his fishing trip?
The weather was not suitable for fishing, as tropical storm Debby had formed near the Cuban coast, bringing rough seas and the threat of torrential rains and coastal flooding.
What actions have been taken to find him?
Coast guards, Maritime Captaincy, and vessels along the Cuban coast are all aware and actively searching for him.