The aftermath of Hurricane Oscar has plunged the Cuban province of Guantánamo into a dire crisis, with numerous families missing and many others left homeless and stripped of all their possessions. Daireli Ribero Matos, a resident of San Antonio del Sur—the area hardest hit by the storm, where seven deaths have been officially reported—shared images of her devastated home on Facebook, expressing, "It's heartbreaking what has happened to us; some have lost their lives, and others have lost everything."
Rescue Efforts Amidst Tragedy
Rescue operations are ongoing in San Antonio del Sur and the nearby municipality of Imías, where entire families are reported missing due to landslides and swollen rivers, according to local residents. Despite these reports, the regime has only confirmed seven fatalities. Emilio Almaguer, an activist from Baracoa, reported the collapse of the Cajobabo bridge, which has left several communities isolated. "Reaching Imías and San Antonio is impossible. The situation is dire; the river has engulfed the entire area," Almaguer noted.
Survivors Struggle with Basic Needs
Survivors are grappling with the lack of electricity, food, and potable water. Yamilka Lafita, an activist based in Havana, is desperately seeking information about her brother and nephew, who vanished while aiding neighbors in their escape. "No one came to help them during the critical moment," she lamented. Meanwhile, Miguel Ángel López Herrera, another activist from Guantánamo, confirmed military helicopters are surveying the region, yet no official count of the missing has been released.
Government Criticized for Lack of Support
A local resident confronted Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel during his visit to the affected area, accusing the government of abandoning him along with 29 children who narrowly escaped drowning when a river suddenly flooded. Another woman voiced her frustration to the president, highlighting that she and her young son had been without drinking water for days.