Amidst the profound grief of losing his son, Julio César Guerrero Batista, father of José Carlos Guerrero García—one of the 13 individuals who perished in the explosion at a munitions warehouse in the town of Melones, Holguín—has vocally demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and insisted on the recovery of his son's body. "I want my son's body," Guerrero asserted emphatically in a heart-wrenching message shared on social media.
His son, Julio César, was among the 13 victims officially declared deceased by the Cuban Armed Forces' high command in a statement released the previous day. Guerrero lamented that "search and investigation efforts were never initiated at the explosion site," claiming that, according to daily updates from a FAR officer visiting his home, operations "could not begin" due to ongoing detonations at the scene, which posed a risk to rescuers, investigators, and experts.
The grieving father questioned when and if any search or investigation had been conducted, revealing that, to date, "the victims' families have not been provided with a detailed explanation of what transpired." He further questioned, "Why didn't the Minister of the FAR and the provincial PCC secretary meet with the families during their visit to Holguín to at least offer condolences?" Guerrero reiterated his demand, "I am asking and insisting that my son's body and those of the others be found. What will be done with the remaining military material there? I want my son's body," he concluded.
In another post on Facebook, the father declared, "Without a body, there will be no ceremony," a decision supported by relatives and friends. The MINFAR commission, tasked with investigating the disaster, stated that due to "the extreme complexity of the terrain resulting from the explosions, accumulated gases, and severe damage, as well as the real danger of collapses due to structural damage," access to the area where the 13 people—four officers and nine soldiers—tried to contain the incident has been impossible.
The official report indicated that "based on the work and analyses conducted by specialists," the ministerial commission and relevant investigative bodies concluded that "the accident site is inaccessible and, consequently, there is no possibility of life in the area." The report also noted that after several days of intense work, it was determined that the likely cause of the incident "was associated with an electrical fault caused by a short circuit inside the facility."
Following the explosion, the Cuban regime maintained a veil of secrecy over the investigation into the tragic event, sparking outrage among the victims' families who accused authorities of negligence, a lack of interest in initiating rescue efforts, and a complete absence of information regarding the investigation. Officials claimed that the risk of further explosions prevented specialists from entering the military unit area where the fire and explosions occurred to commence the search for the missing.
While the regime's official information has not corroborated it, it's been reported by families and friends that the nine soldier victims were young men conscripted for mandatory military service, which is compulsory for Cuban males starting at age 17. Amidst the sorrow and anger prompted by the tragedy that claimed the lives of nine young soldiers and four military personnel, the campaign "No to Military Service" has gained renewed momentum.
Promoted by activists and independent organizations, the initiative calls for an end to military service, considered by many Cubans as an oppressive and hazardous system for young people. In a denouncement made public this Thursday, activist Yamilka Laffita (known as Lara Crofs) disclosed that authorities "are pressuring mothers in the town of Melones to send their sons to mandatory military service."
"They haven't even retrieved the bodies of the kids inside the silos, and they're already recruiting more children to send them to their deaths?" she condemned. Laffita warned of "the increasing frequency of threats from officer Yoel Méndez, who is responsible for summoning young men from the El Purial Popular Council, against mothers who refuse to send their sons into danger."
"Cuban Presidency, Minfar Cuba, has your decency and respect reached its end?" the activist rebuked the authorities.
Questions Surrounding the Holguín Explosion
What caused the explosion in Holguín?
The official report suggests that the explosion was likely caused by an electrical fault resulting from a short circuit within the facility.
Who were the victims of the explosion?
The victims included four officers and nine young soldiers who were attempting to contain the incident.
Why has there been criticism of the investigation into the explosion?
Families of the victims have criticized the investigation due to a lack of transparency, delayed rescue efforts, and insufficient information provided to them.