The operation to locate Alexander Pantoja Bertot, an employee of the Santiago de Cuba Electric Company, intensified this Saturday. Over 50 workers, canine units, and police forces have been deployed to a rural area in eastern Cuba, as detailed by the state entity in a social media update.
Pantoja Bertot was last seen on Thursday, September 10, while inspecting the power line supplying the Gota Blanca reservoir. This area is situated at the border of the Palma Soriano and Contramaestre municipalities, encompassing the communities of La Aduana, Juan Barón, Arroyo Blanco de Aguacate, Haití Chiquito, and Las Cruces.
On Friday, the search efforts included electrical workers from the municipalities of Palma, Contramaestre, and Tercer Frente, alongside canine units, the National Revolutionary Police forces, the rescue and salvage brigade, and local farmers who volunteered their assistance.
Saturday's efforts saw the addition of 50 electrical workers from Santiago de Cuba and the canine brigade from Mella, as reported by the company on their social media platforms.
The coordination of the search is managed by the MININT Delegate in Palma, while company executives remain onsite with Alexander's wife and family members.
In a statement released this Saturday, the company appealed to the public: "Any information regarding his whereabouts, or if anyone has seen him since his disappearance, no matter how insignificant it might seem, could be crucial. Please report it immediately to the authorities or his family."
Yaima Bertot, Alexander's sister, also turned to social media to request assistance and express gratitude for the collective effort: "A heartfelt thank you to everyone putting all their energy into finding my brother. We sincerely hope you maintain that positive energy and that God grants you the strength and clarity to locate my brother. We all eagerly await his return home."
Pantoja Bertot's disappearance comes during a particularly tragic month for Cuban electrical workers.
Earlier in September, lineman Edisvey Rolando Pérez Rodríguez, 32, was electrocuted in Guanabacoa, Havana, while repairing a transformer.
On that same Saturday, news broke of another lineman's death by electrocution in Juraguá, Cienfuegos, during the construction of a line at the Solar Park, while his colleague was hospitalized in critical condition.
Cuba lacks an official system for issuing alerts for missing persons, forcing families to rely on social media to rally public support.
According to 2025 data from the National Office of Statistics and Information, there were 664 occupational accidents that year in Cuba, resulting in 38 fatalities, with the Electricity, Gas, and Water sector accounting for five of these deaths.
Key Facts About the Search for Alexander Pantoja Bertot
Who is coordinating the search for Alexander Pantoja Bertot?
The search efforts are being coordinated by the Delegate of MININT in Palma, with company executives and family members present at the site.
What areas are being searched for Alexander?
The search is concentrated in the rural areas at the border of Palma Soriano and Contramaestre municipalities, including communities such as La Aduana, Juan Barón, Arroyo Blanco de Aguacate, Haití Chiquito, and Las Cruces.
How is the public assisting in the search?
Local farmers have volunteered to assist with the search, and the public is urged to report any sightings or information regarding Pantoja Bertot's whereabouts to the authorities or his family.