A 20-year-old woman, Kiramy "Kira" Kissy Montenegro Rodríguez, who had been missing for eight days in Havana, was discovered alive on Tuesday and has since been reunited with her family.
The announcement came through social media from her mother, Dilcell Rodríguez, and was also confirmed by her sister, Kathleen Montenegro, to CiberCuba.
Relief After Days of Concern
Kira's return home concludes a period of intense worry for her loved ones, who spearheaded a social media campaign to find her. While the family has not yet disclosed details surrounding her disappearance, they have expressed gratitude for the community's support.
"Thank God my daughter has been found. Thank you to everyone. It was through your help that we found her. Blessings to all," her mother shared on Facebook.
Disappearance and the Community's Role
Kira's case came to public attention on December 22 when her mother posted in the Facebook group "Somos Mantilla" seeking help, revealing that her daughter had been missing from home for a week. Although the family filed a report with the police on December 20, they had not received any information by that time.
On the same day, an internet user, Deymi D’Atri, suggested activating the Yeniset Alert, a system created by independent gender observatories for missing women and girls in Cuba. D’Atri shared details about Kira on Facebook to aid in the search.
Last Known Sighting and Search Efforts
The last known sighting of Kira was on December 15, when a neighbor saw her at the Parque de la Fraternidad. Kira, who is pursuing a degree in Industrial Engineering, resides in Mantilla, located in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality.
The disappearance garnered significant attention on social media, thanks to the alerts shared by her family, as well as support from citizens, activists, independent organizations, and media outlets. In the absence of official channels in Cuba for locating missing persons, these efforts proved crucial.
The Importance of Social Media in Cuba
The Observatorio de Género de la revista Alas Tensas (OGAT) emphasized the absence of official citizen alerts, public search protocols, or accessible records in Cuba to activate a rapid search. As a result, families often rely on the immediate tool available: social media.
"Publishing, sharing, and maintaining public pressure becomes the primary mechanism for alerting and mobilizing the community when someone goes missing," OGAT stated.
Key Insights on Missing Persons in Cuba
What is the Yeniset Alert?
The Yeniset Alert is an independent system created by gender observatories in Cuba to aid in the search for missing women and girls.
How did social media play a role in Kira's case?
Social media was pivotal in Kira's case, as her family and community used it to spread alerts and gather support, filling the gap left by the lack of official search channels in Cuba.