As hours pass and hope dwindles for the 13 Cubans missing after the early Tuesday morning explosions at a military warehouse in Melones, Rafael Freyre, Holguín, curiosity grows about those involved in this tragedy. The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) released names and military ranks, comprising four officers and nine "soldiers." Notably, the MINFAR did not disclose ages or clarify that these soldiers are actually Active Military Service (SMA) recruits.
Meanwhile, the digital platform 14yMedio took the initiative to create a collage displaying the faces of 12 out of the 13 individuals involved. These are the people for whom family, friends, and many others in Cuba continue to pray, even as hope grows more elusive.
Their stories are beginning to surface through family testimonies and snippets of biographies shared on social media. Several are nearing the end of their military service, and most hail from areas near the Melones base or other parts of Holguín. However, some have criticized the initiative of publicizing the faces, calling it "disrespectful."
Voices of Concern and Criticism
"It's unethical and disrespectful to share photos of the missing young men on social media without family consent," asserted Lisandra Martín, a pro-regime communicator. In the comments section of the post, some agreed with her view, while others argued that the Cuban state media’s handling of the situation was even more disrespectful, seemingly erasing the missing from the public narrative.
"Many of these photos were shared by the families themselves. They've even given interviews to independent media today. I maintain that if those who are supposed to do their jobs don't, others will step in! With the secrecy, claiming respect and so on, they only leave space for other journalists to do the work that should be done by those who are supposed to," responded lawyer Manuel Viera.
"Since when is identifying the missing and sharing a photo considered morbid? Morbid would be sharing a corpse photo, a nude photo, etc. Worldwide, they tell you who is missing or dead and show the picture... I repeat, the families themselves have shared these photos on social media so their loved ones aren't forgotten. Social media doesn't create photos on its own!" he concluded.
Stories of the Missing
Family and friends continue to hold onto hope on social media for the safe return of their loved ones. Yunior Hernández Rojas, known as "Yunito," is from Holguín and loves playing soccer in his neighborhood. Brian Lázaro Rojas Long, from Esterito in Banes, was eight months away from completing his military service and was working as a chef's assistant at a hotel in the Ramón de Antilla peninsula, a job he is passionate about. Like them, Liander José García Oliva from Rafael Freyre has family and friends expressing hopeful messages online.
Relatives of two of the nine disappeared shared with CubaNet the difficult moments families are experiencing. “We are very sad and desperate. They tell us we have to wait for a call when they have new information. This is very tough,” said a relative of José Carlos Guerrero García, one of the missing, who is only 19 years old from Banes.
“They say the search efforts continue, and we maintain faith in a miracle, but we are only certain that there are many deaths due to the magnitude of the explosions, and it seems they were inside the facility,” explained a cousin of Rayme Rojas Rojas, who was six months away from completing his military service and returning home.
Challenges at Ground Zero
The situation at the ammunition warehouse in Melones, located in Rafael Freyre, Holguín, remains precarious, with ongoing explosions complicating access to ground zero and hindering search efforts for the missing. Lisandra Martín reported on Facebook that as of 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, the latest explosion had occurred at 3:00 p.m. on January 8. She noted that thermal-radiographic readings indicated temperatures exceeding 300 degrees.
"Today, at 4:00 p.m., families were informed that the chances of survival are almost nil. Experts assert there are minimal chances of survival," Martín stated. Meanwhile, a television news report and an article from Granma focused solely on the evacuation of locals, ignoring the missing individuals and any progress in accessing the tragedy’s epicenter.
Granma did report that Alexis Deiggs Gómez, president of the Municipal Assembly of People’s Power, was injured by glass shrapnel from the first major explosion at the Military Unit. He, alongside General of Division Eugenio Rabilero Aguilera and other Council of Defense members, was close to a burning silo when the blast hit them, sending dust and debris flying.
The MINFAR remains silent on the progress of rescue efforts for potential victims. Meanwhile, public outrage continues to grow in forums over the state media’s indifference to the fate of possible victims.
The missing "soldiers" are Leinier Jorge Sánchez Franco; Frank Antonio Hidalgo Almaguer; Liander José García Oliva; Yunior Hernández Rojas; Rayme Rojas Rojas; Carlos Alejandro Acosta Silva; Brian Lázaro Rojas Long; José Carlos Guerrero García; and Héctor Adrián Batista Zayas.
The missing officers are Majors Leonar Palma Matos and Carlos Carreño del Rio, and Second Subofficers Orlebanis Tamé Torres and Yoennis Pérez Durán.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Holguín Explosions
What caused the explosions in Holguín?
The explosions occurred at a military ammunition warehouse in Melones, Holguín. The exact cause has not been disclosed by authorities.
Who are the missing individuals?
The missing individuals include nine young military recruits and four officers, identified by the MINFAR.
What has been the government's response to the explosions?
The government has focused on evacuating nearby residents but has provided limited information on the search for the missing.