A false alarm claiming a dam break in San Antonio del Sur sparked widespread panic among residents last Friday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least three individuals. This information was recently disclosed on social media by Daniel Ross Diéguez, a filmmaker documenting the plight of communities hardest hit by Hurricane Oscar.
“Adolfo, the man in the red shirt in this photo, lost his mother Nelvis, aged 62, who died from a hip fracture during the chaos caused by the false alarm a few days ago. They are holding a wake for her at their home. After arriving at the hospital in Guantánamo, she slipped,” Ross Diéguez shared on Facebook, alongside a picture of the grieving man with others.
Further compounding the tragedy, Ross Diéguez reported, "Two others died from heart attacks the same day when the news broke here in San Antonio del Sur," referring to October 25, when panic erupted due to the rumor of the dam's breach. The community was already reeling emotionally from the devastating floods that significantly altered the landscape and lives in the area.
Community Panic and Chaos
On that ill-fated Friday, local authorities confirmed that Hurricane Oscar had not damaged the Pozo Azul Dam in the Valle de Caujerí, which can hold 14.8 million m3 of water. The rumor of its breakage, however, had thrown San Antonio del Sur into utter chaos. At the time, the dam was holding 12.7 million m3, or 86% of its capacity.
In the ensuing hysteria, dozens of residents fled their homes, assisting the elderly in wheelchairs and rushing to find shelter or escape on passing trucks, as captured in videos posted by journalist Miguel Reyes on Facebook. The confusion also disrupted essential services and affected workers from other provinces attempting to evacuate the area.
Eyewitness Accounts and Government Response
Daniel Ross Diéguez recounted his firsthand experience during a live Facebook broadcast. “Many trucks started turning around quickly, signaling something was wrong. Vehicles from ETECSA, churches, workers from other provinces, and perhaps embassies were all trying to get out. I remember a jeep packed with people that heightened our concern. Cars were overflowing, which hinted something bad had happened until a vehicle stopped and informed us of the news,” he explained.
In response to the chaos, the Cuban government announced through its National Defense Council that an investigation will be launched to identify and prosecute those responsible for spreading the false information.