Families in San Antonio del Sur, including children, faced harrowing moments of uncertainty and fear when they became trapped on a house rooftop due to massive flooding caused by Hurricane Oscar in Guantánamo. Fortunately, local youths heroically came to their rescue, ensuring everyone’s safety.
One family member, known on Facebook as Neldito Rodríguez Labañino, shared two videos capturing their dramatic escape amid the overwhelming deluge that engulfed the Guantánamo municipality just over a week ago. Rodríguez expressed profound gratitude towards both divine intervention and the courageous neighborhood youths who facilitated their rescue.
"I want to thank God first and foremost, and everyone involved in rescuing my family, neighbors, and me. My deepest appreciation goes out to the neighborhood guys, particularly El chino Joenqui, Lasarito, Raulín, Endri, Danito, and Wilito, who masterminded the rescue using rafts and ropes. I have no other words for you guys but to thank you immensely," Rodríguez wrote on Wednesday in the Facebook group Revolico San Antonio del Sur.
Scenes of Survival and Solidarity
The videos depict a dozen people, including several children, huddled on a rooftop surrounded by floodwaters nearly reaching the roof itself and those of nearby homes. Some sought shelter under an improvised canopy made of tiles, plastic, and blankets, while others braved the open elements, struggling against the cyclone's fierce winds.
Despite the uncertainty of rescue, which eventually came through the solidarity of fellow townspeople, their experience reflects just one of many visual testimonies from survivors of Hurricane Oscar's devastation in the easternmost Cuban province.
Community Acts of Heroism
In another heart-stopping rescue, a father and his young daughter were saved from their flooded home in Imías by volunteers, likely local transport workers. As raging waters nearly submerged their house, these heroes ensured the pair’s safety.
Since the hurricane struck Cuba on October 20, images of residents risking their lives to save others have flooded social media, showcasing the bravery and resilience of these communities amidst disaster in Imías and San Antonio del Sur. Two young men notably saved a man and a woman, whose survival depended on their courage.
Hurricane Oscar's Grim Toll
Primarily impacting San Antonio del Sur and Imías, with significant damage in Baracoa and Maisí, Oscar has left devastation and fatalities in its wake. Ten days post-landfall, the government reported eight confirmed deaths—seven in San Antonio del Sur and one in Imías—and two individuals still missing.
However, locals have challenged these numbers, claiming that the actual death toll and number of missing far exceed official reports. Additionally, unofficial sources revealed that three more people died due to panic-induced incidents following false alarms about the collapse of San Antonio del Sur's dam walls. Among the deceased was a woman who suffered a fatal hip fracture while fleeing, and two others who succumbed to heart attacks. Authorities have yet to confirm or deny these claims.