The home of Yodelmis Furones Matos in Baracoa, Guantánamo, has been reduced to ruins after a tree crashed through the roof in the middle of the night during the onslaught of Hurricane Oscar. The incident left the child critically injured with a severe head trauma, posing a grave threat to his life.
On Facebook, local media outlet Primada Visión shared images of the devastated house and promised to provide more information about the young boy's ordeal, who is currently recovering in Santiago de Cuba. Official state media Cubadebate reported that the accident rendered Yodelmis unconscious.
After losing consciousness from the impact, Yodelmis was rescued in critical condition and swiftly transported to hospitals in Baracoa and Santiago. The operation involved a multidisciplinary team and the Air Force, as reported by the Ministry of Public Health. Presently, the child is being treated at the Hospital Pediátrico Sur, where he is receiving specialized care and showing promising signs of recovery.
Survival Stories Amidst the Storm
The hurricane's passage through Guantánamo spawned numerous harrowing tales, such as that of several residents in the Carrizal area, located in the municipality of Imías. These individuals narrowly escaped death by spending the night atop a reinforced roof, enduring relentless rain while avoiding the flooding below.
According to activist Yamilka Laffita—known as Lara Crofs—these survivors shared their experiences, highlighting their desperate measures to stay safe. Meanwhile, official reports indicate that thousands were rescued following unprecedented floods that completely isolated communities in the municipalities of Imías, San Antonio del Sur, and Baracoa.
Questioning Official Reports
Search and rescue operations have been ongoing for over a week, focusing on families missing after landslides and river overflows in Imías and San Antonio del Sur. Despite the government's confirmation of seven deaths—six in San Antonio del Sur and one in Imías—there is skepticism among locals.
Eyewitness accounts from affected residents challenge the official figures, suggesting that the true extent of fatalities and disappearances far exceeds the numbers reported by the authorities. These accounts paint a more dire picture of the situation in the wake of Hurricane Oscar.