The family of a 78-year-old man from Jovellanos, Matanzas is enduring a harrowing ordeal after reporting his disappearance. The elderly man went out to gather firewood and has not been seen since. According to his granddaughter's social media post, he was last spotted near the El Doce apartment area in Jovellanos municipality, and since then, there has been no trace of him. He was dressed in work clothes and had tools for cutting wood with him.
The family asserts that he did not suffer from memory issues or any medical conditions that might explain his prolonged absence. On the contrary, he was a vibrant and active individual, deeply involved in the lives of his grandchildren. "He's a loving and stern grandpa, always watching over us and being a partner in crime to all his grandkids. He's been a father figure to my mom and aunts since he came into my grandma's life. A beautiful soul inside and out," his granddaughter expressed in a heartfelt message that captures the family's overwhelming despair.
This incident adds to the growing list of missing persons reports in Cuba, predominantly involving the elderly and women. Recently, the family of 77-year-old Laudelina Piñeiro Peña issued an urgent plea after she failed to reach her destination in Artemisa. In Sancti Spíritus, another elderly man has been missing since September 22, and in Havana, the disappearance of 80-year-old Noguella Lezcano Milián, who has health issues, has left an entire neighborhood on edge.
In the absence of effective search and rescue protocols, social media has become the primary tool for Cuban families, relying on public solidarity to share photos, describe their loved ones, and seek help. Anyone with information about the missing man from Jovellanos is urged to contact the family at the provided phone number: 51309467.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to grow in Matanzas and throughout Cuba, where each new disappearance underscores the vulnerability of families facing a state that fails to deliver swift or effective responses to such crises.
Understanding the Disappearance Crisis in Cuba
What is the current situation regarding missing persons in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing an increase in missing persons cases, especially among the elderly and women. The lack of effective state protocols has left families relying on social media and public help to find their loved ones.
How are families in Cuba responding to disappearances?
Families are using social media as a vital tool to share information, photos, and pleas for help, seeking solidarity from the public to locate their missing relatives.
What challenges do families face in finding missing loved ones?
The main challenge is the lack of efficient state responses and search protocols, forcing families to depend heavily on community support and social media for assistance.