On Tuesday, the official Facebook page of the El Purial Popular Council in Holguín raised an alert to locate the family of an elderly woman found disoriented in the El Dajao community.
The woman identifies herself as Onelia Cepeda Díaz and claims to reside in the Ciudad Jardín neighborhood in the city of Holguín.
According to her own account, she has been missing from her home for six days, suggesting that her disappearance occurred around May 6th.
Photographs shared online, captured at 8:51 a.m. on Tuesday, depict a woman with short gray hair and dark skin, dressed in a beige shirt, a red undershirt, and blue denim shorts. She is seen sitting on concrete blocks amidst dirt and vegetation, with a black bag and a bottle among her belongings.
The Popular Council announced that they are collaborating with the local Health Directorate to provide medical care and help locate her family: "We are working with the Health Directorate in the area for her care and family location."
The alert was issued just minutes after the photographs were taken.
Growing Concern Over Disappearances in Holguín
This case highlights a worrying trend of elderly disappearances in Holguín. In February 2024, a mentally disabled elderly woman known as "Nene" was missing for several days in the same province.
In October 2023, another elderly woman who had been missing for a month in Holguín was found alive, and in September of that year, another Cuban woman had been missing for 20 days in the same area.
In December 2022, the family of Lilia Zamora Valera, an elderly woman with memory issues, filed a report with the National Revolutionary Police following her disappearance in Holguín.
As stated in the 2025 OGAT Annual Report released in April this year, there were at least 40 reported disappearances of women, girls, and children in Cuba during 2025. At least nine of these cases involved mental health or cognitive decline, mostly affecting elderly women.
Cuban families often turn to social networks and community structures like popular councils to report disappearances, due to the lack of institutional mechanisms that ensure a swift and effective state response.
Anyone who recognizes Onelia Cepeda Díaz or has information about her family can reach out to the El Purial Popular Council through their Facebook page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elderly Disappearances in Holguín
What measures are being taken to locate Onelia Cepeda Díaz's family?
The El Purial Popular Council is working with the local Health Directorate to provide medical care and locate her family. They have also issued an alert on social media to aid in the search.
Are disappearances of elderly individuals common in Holguín?
Yes, there has been a troubling pattern of elderly disappearances in Holguín, with multiple cases reported in recent years involving individuals with mental health or cognitive issues.
How do families in Cuba typically report a missing person?
Cuban families often rely on social networks and community councils to alert others about missing persons due to insufficient institutional mechanisms for a prompt state response.