The Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSP) has shared details regarding the rescue of a six-year-old child in Baracoa, who was in critical condition following the impact of Tropical Storm Oscar on the Guantanamo region. The top health authority on the island highlighted that a multidisciplinary team of professionals, alongside the Air Force, ensured the transport of the child, identified as Yodelmis Furones Matos, first to the Octavio Concepción and de la Pedraja Hospital in Baracoa, and subsequently to the South Pediatric Hospital in Santiago de Cuba.
Yodelmis, only six years old, suffered a traumatic brain injury when a tree fell onto the roof of his home during the early morning hours, leaving him unconscious, as reported by the state-run site Cubadebate. The aftermath of Oscar created severe road disruptions, complicating efforts to transport the boy to a medical facility for immediate care.
Challenges in Accessing Medical Care
The primary access route to the eastern part of Guantanamo—including Baracoa, Imías, and San Antonio del Sur—via the La Farola viaduct, has sustained significant damage. This has exacerbated the already dire situation in these areas, amidst the critical conditions brought on by the complete collapse of the national electrical grid last Friday, which continues to leave hundreds of thousands of Cubans without power.
Tragic Loss of Lives
On Monday, Cuban officials confirmed the deaths of at least six individuals in the municipality of San Antonio del Sur due to Oscar. Among the victims identified on Tuesday was a five-year-old girl. The fatalities also included three seniors over the age of 80, and two other victims were between the ages of 30 and 40.