The Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) has officially declared 13 individuals as "missing" following a series of explosions early Tuesday morning at an arms and ammunition depot in the Melones community, located in the Rafael Freyre municipality of Holguín. Among those missing are two military officers holding the rank of "Major," two "Second Officers," and nine "Soldiers."
The identified individuals are as follows:
1. Major Leonar Palma Matos.
2. Major Carlos Carreño del Rio.
3. Second Officer Orlebanis Tamé Torres.
4. Second Officer Yoennis Pérez Durán.
5. Soldier Leinier Jorge Sánchez Franco.
6. Soldier Frank Antonio Hidalgo Almaguer.
7. Soldier Liander José García Oliva.
8. Soldier Yunior Hernández Rojas.
9. Soldier Rayme Rojas Rojas.
10. Soldier Carlos Alejandro Acosta Silva.
11. Soldier Brian Lázaro Rojas Long.
12. Soldier José Carlos Guerrero García.
13. Soldier Héctor Adrian Batista Zayas.
The authorities have informed the families of those missing, and the Party, Government, and Revolutionary Armed Forces are actively addressing the situation while investigations continue at the site of the incident, according to a brief statement.
Community Reaction and Government Silence
While the official statement did not specify details, numerous social media users have pointed out that the nine missing soldiers were likely young men serving mandatory military service. This tragedy echoes the loss of young lives during the fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base in August 2022, where several young servicemen perished while serving as firefighters.
Neither Miguel Díaz-Canel nor Manuel Marrero have commented on the Holguín disaster on their social media, opting instead to post condolences for the victims of an earthquake in Tibet. This has fueled public outrage, with many Cubans once again calling for the abolition of compulsory military service in Cuba.
Criticism of Official Media and Emergency Response
The sparse coverage by the official Cuban media has also come under fire, as critics question the lack of thorough reporting on such serious incidents. Activist "Edmundo Dantés Junior" criticized the silence from Díaz-Canel and questioned why local journalists were not covering the explosion in Rafael Freyre more extensively. He pointed out the inadequacy of a poorly written statement read on television as the last news item, despite the explosion being the most significant and tragic event of the day.
Recent images have surfaced, revealing the scale of the explosion, which was allegedly triggered by a fire while sorting aging ammunition. Previously, MINFAR reported that 361 people living near the explosion site had been safeguarded, and efforts were ongoing to assess personnel status and property damage. Additionally, over 1,200 residents were evacuated from Melones following the blasts.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Explosion in Holguín
What caused the explosion in Holguín?
The explosion was reportedly caused by a fire that broke out while sorting aging ammunition at the military warehouse.
How many people are missing after the explosion?
A total of 13 individuals have been declared missing, including military officers and soldiers.
What has been the response from Cuban officials?
The Party, Government, and Revolutionary Armed Forces are addressing the situation, but high-profile officials have remained silent on social media about the incident.
How has the public reacted to the incident?
There has been widespread public outrage and calls for the end of mandatory military service, with criticism also directed at the lack of media coverage.