A group of at least 16 Cuban nationals, including several young individuals from Niquero in Granma Province, have gone missing after embarking on a journey to Jamaica using three boats.
According to family members, it is believed that at least one of the vessels capsized near the Jamaican coast.
The group set sail on Sunday from a location known as Palma de la Cruz in the municipality of Niquero, aiming for Montego Bay, Jamaica, as shared with CiberCuba by Yariennis Guevara Tamayo, a relative of some of the passengers.
"Three boats departed. I sent you the video where their boat flipped. Those nearby reported that they stayed next to the overturned vessel; this happened around three or four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. But since then, there's been no news," Guevara recounted.
Desperate Plea for Assistance
The young woman explained that the three boats, which left from the southern coast of Granma, became separated during their voyage.
One of them, carrying her family members, reportedly capsized near Jamaica, but there has been no confirmation of any rescues or official reports at this time.
"We are asking for help, for someone to search around Cabo Cruz or even in Jamaica. We can't bear this agony any longer," she pleaded.
The family, in a state of desperation, is urging Cubans residing in Jamaica to ascertain whether the travelers were rescued by the Jamaican coast guard or if they remain adrift.
Identities of the Missing
Among the missing individuals confirmed by the family are:
- Idionis Bilte, 28 years old
- Yoni Alejandro Tamayo, 18 years old
- Omar Guevara Pérez, 50 years old
- Danni Guevara Tamayo, 28 years old
Other passengers are reportedly from Las Coloradas and Palma de la Cruz, coastal communities in Niquero, where several groups have recently departed for Jamaica, fleeing Cuba's economic and social crisis.
Guevara mentioned that no bodies or wreckage have been found, and the absence of an official response exacerbates the families' distress.
"We need to know about our family, whether they are alive or dead. Not knowing anything is the most painful part," she expressed with anguish.
Seeking Answers and Solidarity
Guevara shared that some legal Cuban residents in Jamaica were the ones who informed Cuban families about the possible shipwreck.
"They communicated with people there, and that's how the information reached us," she explained.
The family urgently requests assistance from Cubans in Jamaica to verify if the missing were saved by the coast guard or if they remain unaccounted for.
"We've contacted various institutions, but no one responds, and the phones go unanswered," she lamented.
Speaking from the United States, where she resides, Guevara described the anguish experienced by her relatives in Cuba. "My aunt lost her two sons and the father of one of them. People are desperate, crying in the streets. These are young men, without jobs, without food, without medicine, without anything. No one is accountable for the suffering of this nation," she said, her voice breaking.
She also noted that adverse weather conditions could have led to the capsizing. "There was a cold front, the sea was rough, the waves were high, and it seems the boat overturned. I don't understand anything," she recounted.
Moved, she made an appeal for solidarity: "To all Cubans in Jamaica, please help us. We don't want anything material, just to know about them, even if it's to bring them back alive. Help us, because Cubans have big hearts."
No official statement has been released by the Cuban authorities regarding the disappearance, and there is no evidence of any search or rescue operations in the Caribbean Sea by either Cuban or Jamaican authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Missing Cuban Nationals
What is the current status of the missing Cuban nationals?
As of now, there have been no confirmed rescues or official reports regarding the missing individuals. Families are urgently seeking information and assistance.
How many people are missing from the journey to Jamaica?
At least 16 Cubans are reported missing, including several young individuals from Niquero.
What challenges are the families facing in finding their loved ones?
Families are facing a lack of official response and communication, compounding their distress. They appeal for help from those in Jamaica to find out if their loved ones have been rescued.