Adriano Rodríguez, 19, is one of the 14 individuals missing from the fire at the Supertanqueros Base in Matanzas, as confirmed by testimonies from those close to him.
According to close friends who have shared heartfelt messages on social media regarding his alleged passing, the young man was serving in the Mandatory Military Service with the Cuban Fire Department.
"My Tato, my little boy, how could you leave like that, just like that, without even a glance, without the chance to say goodbye… without a hug, without a kiss, without telling you that you were my only friend whom I trusted with any problem, and you always supported me in everything, without being able to tell you how much I loved you. But you are no longer here, and I keep all of this in my heart because I know that now I’m left only with the beautiful memories we created together, memories that I will never forget..." wrote one of his closest friends, who identifies online as Saritahh Santana.
The young woman also mentions in her heartfelt farewell message, where she shares several images of the young firefighter, that “today you are no longer here, and I know I will never see you again. You have left me with an immense pain. I will always feel that void in my heart knowing that you will be gone, Tato.”
Although the Cuban government has not provided any information about the identity of the missing individuals, a report from the news portal Cubanet states that, after contacting a neighbor of Adriano's family, the authorities have still not confirmed his death, and that "his parents are in Matanzas waiting for their son to be found."
To date, the authorities have officially confirmed the death of firefighter Juan Carlos Santana Garrido. However, this Tuesday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel announced the start of the search for the remains of the 14 individuals missing in this tragedy.
"We are about to enter the most difficult moment to locate the bodies of the deceased, which is a sad, painful time, very intense emotionally, but one that must also be faced," said the president on Wednesday to official media on the island in a video shared on the Twitter profile of the Presidency of Cuba.
This past Sunday, the Cuban leader assured that the search for the missing individuals in this tragedy would begin once the fire was extinguished.
"As we are able to extinguish the fire, we can begin the search for the missing. Once the fire is put out and temperatures decrease, the search efforts for the victims will commence," the leader assured Cuban state media after his meeting at the Hotel Velasco with the families of the missing.
"All our support is with you, and we are here for whatever you need," said the leader, who also visited the injured in the incident hospitalized at Faustino Pérez Hospital in Matanzas.
Also this Monday, the reaction of the mother of one of the missing Cuban youth due to the accident came to light.
Elizabeth Leyva, mother of Luis Ángel Álvarez, said in an emotional post that she has been left in the dark after the confirmation of her son's death during the fire at the Supertanqueros Base in Matanzas.
The 23-year-old was part of the firefighting team on the front lines of the blaze when a second fuel tank exploded in the early hours of Saturday, leaving 14 people missing.
"God gifted me this star, my son Luis Ángel, but took him away so that he could light up the universe and protect it, leaving me in the dark, without a soul, without a heart," Leyva posted on Facebook. He also updated his profile pictures to an image of his son with a sign of mourning.
In addition to that testimony, Yunia Doval, the aunt of Leo Alejandro Doval, one of those missing during the fire in Matanzas, expressed her outrage at her nephew's death and explained that the 19-year-old should not have been sent to the scene of the incident.
"I don't want you to be a hero, my child; I'd rather you be a coward!" the woman stated in an emotional Facebook post.
"I have always admired your values, and we know in your family that you are not someone who runs away, yet today, I would prefer that you had. I would feel the same pride if you were to come now saying that you suddenly became cowardly, rebellious, and defiant, and that you jumped off the fire truck, because ultimately, you are not one of them. You would be a neurosurgeon!" Doval expressed.
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