Amidst the turmoil caused by Hurricane Oscar in the Guantanamo municipality of San Antonio del Sur, residents were thrown into chaos on Friday following a rumor about a potential dam break in the area. Already ravaged by the hurricane, which has claimed the lives of at least six locals due to flooding since Saturday, people fled their homes in a frenzy. Elderly individuals were pushed in wheelchairs, and families scrambled for safety or hopped onto trucks to escape, as shown in videos posted by the official news outlet Miguel Noticias on Facebook.
The province's Defense Council president quickly debunked the terrifying rumor, labeling it as "fake news." He stated, "We want to inform the residents, especially those in San Antonio and Guantanamo, that the rumor about the dam break in San Antonio del Sur is false. This misinformation, spread by ill-intentioned people, has caused undue panic in an already affected community. We reiterate: it is completely false," he affirmed.
Nevertheless, the damage had been done, as tension gripped the community. A video circulating on social media captured the sheer panic incited by the false alarm. This incident highlights the growing distrust towards the government, especially in a crisis where state negligence endangered lives during a massive blackout that, last Friday and Saturday, left residents uninformed about the hurricane's approach, catching them off guard.
The Aftermath of Hurricane Oscar
The recent events have left the community feeling abandoned. Miliurki Ortiz Rojas, a social media commentator, remarked that the panic was fueled by rumors and a lack of clear information. Another resident, Yami Yami, voiced her frustration over the prevailing fear and distrust among the populace.
San Antonio del Sur emerged as one of the municipalities hardest hit by the hurricane, suffering six confirmed fatalities, including three elderly individuals over 80 and a five-year-old girl. President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed the tragedy, suggesting that the victims likely drowned amid the severe flooding that battered the region.
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Oscar, which made landfall on Sunday before downgrading to a tropical storm, has rendered many areas inaccessible to rescue operations. Díaz-Canel noted that the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior are actively engaged in efforts to locate and assist the affected population.