At least four young residents of the Niquero municipality in Granma province died in a shipwreck while attempting to leave the country illegally by sea.
In recent hours, expressions of sorrow have proliferated on social media over the untimely loss of Alba Parrado Meriño, Leandro López, Adrián Matos Maceo, and a fourth young person whose name we only know was "José."
"Today I want to join the deep sorrow of my people, Niquero, for the irreparable loss of these young individuals who, in their pursuit of a better life and to assist their families, lost their lives in the effort," wrote the internet user Roger Aurelio Ávila in an emotional Facebook post, highlighting that those who passed away were very much loved in the community.
"EPD. My deepest condolences to the family. May God keep them in His glory," wrote another Cuban from Bogotá, identified on social media as "La Niña Linda de Ochún."
"So much sadness in my town. It's hard to see how all dreams, hopes, and life can come to an end in just a minute. Rest in peace," wrote another user.
The circumstances surrounding the shipwreck that claimed the lives of the four young men are not clear, although all indications suggest it may be linked to the sinking of a vessel that departed from Playa Menéndez in the municipality of Martí.
A single shipwreck?
In recent days, the independent media outlet elToque reported that a shipwreck allegedly resulted in the deaths of 24 Cuban migrants following a collision between a speedboat and another vessel.
That source reported that "only one survivor was found, the lifeguard, who is said to be in serious condition."
In that group were presumably William Tamayo Tuñón, 41 years old, and Alejandro Peñafuerte, 17.
However, doubts remain regarding the exact number of those involved and whether there are more survivors.
Other reports indicate that there are four survivors who have already been deported to Cuba.
On the other hand, the Coast Guard confirmed to Martí Noticias that "the Police are investigating the sinking of a vessel where immigrants were reportedly being trafficked from Cuba."
"The repatriation of four Cuban migrants to Cuba took place on Monday. There is currently no additional information to share due to an ongoing police investigation," the entity added.
A person close to the repatriated immigrants confirmed that this is the same boat trip where Alejandro Peñafuerte and William Tamayo Tuñón reportedly lost their lives.
"One of the boatmen has died, and the other is in serious condition in Cayo Hueso. The four survivors are at Técnico de Matanzas, a police research unit in Cuba," said a person who requested to remain anonymous for fear of government retaliation.
"They were adrift at sea for seven days. No one came to their rescue or helped them, not even the individuals who were aware of this operation in the United States. They were left to die," added the same anonymous source.
According to that source, there were 15 people on the vessel that capsized about 15 days ago in the Florida Strait. Only five survived, including one of the boatmen.
The news reporter, Niover Licea, indicated recently that there were 24 migrants, of whom four survived and were returned to the island this week.
After being held in Havana, they were reportedly returned to Matanzas, but they have not been able to see their relatives because the case is under investigation, a version that aligns with the information provided by Martí Noticias.
As of the closing of this note, many questions remain regarding whether it is a single shipwreck or not, as well as the exact number of deceased Cubans.
Unfortunately, the Cuban government has not officially addressed the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Shipwreck of Cuban Migrants
Who were the young Cubans who died in the shipwreck?
The young individuals who lost their lives in the shipwreck were residents of the municipality of Niquero, in Granma Province. Their names are Alba Parrado Meriño, Leandro López, Adrián Matos Maceo, and a young man identified only as "José."
What is known about the circumstances of the shipwreck?
The circumstances of the shipwreck are not entirely clear. It is assumed that the accident occurred due to a collision between a speedboat and a vessel that left from Playa Menéndez in the municipality of Martí, Matanzas. Reports suggest that the shipwreck may be linked to human trafficking from Cuba.
How many survivors were there and what has happened to them?
Initially, only one survivor was reported, the lifeguard, who is in critical condition. However, other accounts suggest that there were four survivors who have been deported to Cuba and are currently under investigation in Matanzas, unable to see their families.
What has the Cuban government said about the shipwreck?
So far, the Cuban government has not issued an official statement regarding the shipwreck. The lack of official information has raised uncertainty and concern among the families of the victims and survivors.
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