In the aftermath of Hurricane Oscar's devastating impact on several municipalities in Guantánamo province, chilling images of rescues continue to emerge. Among these is the rescue of a father and his young daughter from their flooded home in Imías. Footage shared on Facebook by the Imías Transportation Base Business Unit captures the intense moments as the father and his approximately seven-year-old daughter are pulled to safety while the rising floodwaters threatened to submerge their home.
“This is how we lived through the tragedy of Cyclone Oscar in Imías, and despite the circumstances, we transport workers are saving lives,” the post declares. In one video, a man, seemingly a state enterprise worker, steps out of a Kamaz truck, approaching the house and loudly asking if anyone is inside. Meanwhile, another person in the truck exclaims with alarm, “Look at this!... Tell them not to panic!” The camera captures the chaotic waters that have engulfed homes and trees, with relentless rain pouring down.
Braving the Floodwaters
The tension peaks as the father, carrying his daughter on his back, is assisted by several men across the turbulent current, with water reaching above their knees. The child's frightened cries of “Dad!” echo amid the perilous scene. “Mom, don’t cry,” the father reassures her as he struggles towards the truck, aided by the hands and arms of the makeshift rescuers.
“Don’t cry, Lerica, hold on!” someone from the truck urges the girl, who continues to call out for her father as they near the vehicle. The video cuts off at this dramatic moment. The identities of the rescued father and daughter, as well as the men who risked their lives to save them, remain undisclosed, though it is implied the rescuers are state employees.
Community Heroism Amid Destruction
In the days following the hurricane, which made landfall on October 20th, images have surfaced depicting acts of heroism by local residents who risked their lives to rescue others amid the severe flooding. These floods isolated municipalities like Imías and San Antonio del Sur. Notably, a viral video captured two courageous young men in San Antonio del Sur saving two elderly neighbors, who might not have survived without their intervention.
Many individuals sought refuge on rooftops, awaiting the storm’s retreat and the floodwaters’ descent, which left devastation and loss in places like San Antonio del Sur and Imías, and also severely affected Baracoa and Maisí. As of now, ten days after Hurricane Oscar struck eastern Cuba, the government has reported eight deaths—seven in San Antonio del Sur and one in Imías—and the disappearance of two others.
However, the official death toll has been questioned by local residents who claim the number of fatalities is higher, with numerous people still unaccounted for. Unofficial reports on Wednesday indicated at least three additional deaths linked to a false alarm about a dam breach in San Antonio del Sur, which caused panic among residents last Friday. According to Daniel Ross Diéguez, an audiovisual producer documenting the hurricane’s aftermath, one woman died from a hip fracture sustained while fleeing, and two others suffered fatal heart attacks. These reports have not been confirmed by authorities.