On Friday, the Cuban regime quickly utilized all available communication channels to assert that Hurricane Oscar did not inflict any damage on the Pozo Azul dam in the Caujerí Valley, Guantánamo. This statement came after widespread rumors of a potential rupture incited panic and chaos in San Antonio del Sur, a municipality already reeling from recent floods.
Amid the hurricane-induced crisis, residents of San Antonio del Sur were gripped by fear due to rumors of the dam's possible failure. Currently, the reservoir holds 12.7 million cubic meters of water, which is 86% of its capacity. The panic drove dozens of people to evacuate, with scenes of elderly individuals being pushed in wheelchairs and others fleeing for safety, as captured in videos shared by the pro-government site Miguel Noticias on Facebook.
Military Denies Dam Collapse Rumors
The Eastern Army accused "malicious digital platforms" of spreading false claims about the dam's collapse in San Antonio del Sur, aiming to instill fear among the populace. The military dismissed these reports and provided live aerial footage showing the Vice Minister Chief of the General Staff and other high-ranking officials surveying the area, as reported by Guantánamo's Primada Visión TV.
Furthermore, official journalist Bernardo Espinosa confirmed that experts from Aguas Terrestres reported the reservoir never reached full capacity despite the hurricane's impact. "The Los Asientos Dam, also located in Cuba's easternmost province, is currently at 100% capacity, holding 17.5 million cubic meters," he stated, "but as of Friday noon, it is releasing water without any issues."
Community Distrust and Government Negligence
Despite these official clarifications, fear had already spread throughout San Antonio del Sur. A viral video on social media captured the panic caused by the unfounded news. The visibly shaken community underscores the deep-seated distrust in the government amidst a crisis where state negligence left them vulnerable during a massive power outage. This blackout, occurring on Friday and Saturday, left residents unaware of the hurricane's approach, catching them off guard.
San Antonio del Sur has been one of the hardest-hit areas by Hurricane Oscar, resulting in six confirmed fatalities, including three elderly individuals over 80 and a five-year-old girl. President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the tragedy, suggesting the victims likely drowned due to the severe flooding.
The havoc wreaked by Hurricane Oscar, which made landfall on Sunday and later weakened to a tropical storm, has rendered many areas inaccessible for rescue operations. Díaz-Canel noted that the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior are actively involved in efforts to locate and assist the affected community.