The image of a man standing chest-deep in water while holding a television during Hurricane Melissa captured global attention in mere hours.
To many, it epitomized the resilience and poverty of Cuba: a citizen clinging to one of the few valuable possessions left in a country where even basic necessities require a lifetime of struggle.
The man in the photo is Duany Despaine, though everyone in his San Miguel de Parada neighborhood in Santiago de Cuba knows him as Minguito.
After the photo went viral, social media falsely reported his death. Rumors spread that he had died of a heart attack or had received donations and even a house. None of it was true.
Activist Yasser Sosa Tamayo dispelled the misinformation with a Facebook post that quickly went viral.
"Minguito is alive. And more dignified than ever. I went to his town: where the hurricane not only tore off roofs but also shattered certainties. His home is now gone. All that's left is a wet floor and a television that no longer turns on, like a heart gone cold in the mud," he detailed.
Sosa recounted that Minguito welcomed him with a weary smile, his clothes still damp and his body marked by tragedy.
"What they're saying isn't true. No one has brought gifts, help, or anything. But I'm still here, brother," Minguito told him, according to the journalist.
The reporter handed him some aid "on behalf of all who still believe in seeing and not turning a blind eye."
In his post, Sosa reflected on the epic-like poverty that plagues the country.
"In this country, where misery masquerades as viral news, there are men like him who don't seek applause: just truth. Minguito didn't save a television; he saved his dignity," he concluded.
Following Sosa’s post, another user, Osniel Díaz González, seized the opportunity to call for more people to join in and help the families in eastern Cuba affected by the hurricane.
"Great things are coming for these families because I want us all to unite and help. This is reality touched by the hand," he emphasized on Facebook.
The Truth Behind the Viral Photo
The photograph, captured by Yamil Lage for AFP, was taken on the highway near the Refinery in Santiago de Cuba.
It showed a man wading through waist-deep water with an old television in his arms. In a short time, it became a symbol of the devastation Melissa left in eastern Cuba.
Yet alongside solidarity, misinformation also spread. Some users fabricated his death to gain followers online while official media remained silent.
It was Santiago resident Olia Muguercia who first confirmed the man was alive, calling for help on his behalf:
"This photo is circulating on social media. His name is Duany Despaine, better known as Minguito. He lives in Santiago de Cuba. He’s alive, but his house is flooded. He lost everything," she stated on Facebook last Friday.
A Country Sinking
In San Miguel de Parada, like many neighborhoods in eastern Cuba, Hurricane Melissa's rains destroyed homes and swept away what little remained in households already marked by hardship.
Many communities are still flooded, with areas lacking electricity and potable water.
Meanwhile, state media limits itself to highlighting the "swift government response" and "recovery efforts," a repeated narrative that contrasts with testimonies of neglect.
In Santiago de Cuba, where the regime boasts organization and discipline, many survivors claim they haven't received any official aid.
The institutional silence on stories like Minguito's reveals an uncomfortable truth: the population survives more through neighborly solidarity than state action.
The Image That Exposed a Reality
"Minguito didn't save a television," Sosa Tamayo wrote, "he saved his dignity."
Indeed, that old analog device he carried through water and debris is more than just an object: it represents the little that the Cuban people can still call their own amid total loss.
The photograph of Minguito, shared by international media and on social networks, has become a symbol of a country where each hurricane sweeps away not only roofs and walls but also hope.
In today’s Cuba, where institutions fail to reach and official propaganda tries to cover up ruin, a man standing chest-deep in water with a television in his arms embodies an entire nation fighting, quite literally, not to drown.
Understanding the Impact of Hurricane Melissa on Cuba
What was the significance of the viral photo during Hurricane Melissa?
The photo of Minguito holding a television in waist-deep water became a symbol of Cuban resilience and poverty, highlighting the struggles faced by citizens amid natural disasters and systemic neglect.
How did social media contribute to misinformation about Minguito?
Social media platforms spread false reports of Minguito's death and claims of him receiving gifts and housing, which were unfounded. These narratives were used by some for gaining online followers.
What challenges are faced by communities in eastern Cuba after Hurricane Melissa?
Communities are dealing with flooded areas, lack of electricity, and scarce potable water, compounded by insufficient official aid, leaving them reliant on neighborly support.