Family members, authorities, and residents in the province of Holguín gathered this Monday to pay tribute to the 13 Cubans who lost their lives, nine of whom were recruits from the Military Service, as a result of the explosions that occurred on January 7 at a military warehouse in the locality of Melones, municipality of Rafael Freyre.
The ceremony, presided over by Miguel Díaz-Canel, took place at the Plaza de la Revolución “Mayor General Calixto García” in Holguín, and began at 9:00 a.m. (local time).
In addition to Díaz-Canel, the event was attended by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz; the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera; and Central Committee member of the Party, Joel Queipo Ruiz.
During the ceremony, honor guards were formed alongside the portraits of 12 of the 13 fallen, and floral tributes were laid on behalf of Raúl Castro Ruz, Díaz-Canel, the FAR, the people of Holguín, and the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution.
It is noteworthy that in the case of the deceased recruit, Frank Antonio Hidalgo Almaguer, there was no photo displayed in the frame.
At the command words "Attention" and "Present arms," the notes of the Cuban National Anthem were heard, followed by three gun salutes that echoed through the square in tribute to the fallen. The Cuban flag was flying at half-mast, as a sign of official mourning.
Brigadier General Florencio Navas Guevara, chief of the General Staff of the Eastern Army, delivered a tribute speech in which he emphasized the sacrifice and bravery of the combatants.
"They are part of our history and will be remembered as an example of dedication and bravery. Today and always, their sacrifice will inspire us to move forward," said Navas Guevara.
"They will be remembered forever; they are part of the history of a great people. Their example will always inspire us, and today all of Cuba stands with us," he added.
The tribute concluded with the laying of flowers at a pedestal located next to the portraits of the fallen.
Both Díaz-Canel and the other authorities present expressed their condolences to the families, who also laid flowers in tribute to their loved ones.
After this event, the people of Holguín, represented by students, workers, and local leaders, paid tribute to the deceased.
On social media, Díaz-Canel expressed that the deceased "died heroically and as heroes, they deserve our deepest tribute and the support for their loved ones in the pain of loss."
A devastating disaster
The tragic incident, which occurred on January 7, shocked the local population and caused deep sorrow throughout the country. According to official reports, the disaster was triggered by a fire that led to a series of explosions in a facility where "aged" military material was stored.
The victims, which include four officers and nine soldiers, were mostly young recruits from the Mandatory Military Service carrying out missions related to the security of the warehouse.
La confirmación de sus fallecimientos, tras días de incertidumbre, dejó un vacío irreparable en sus familias y una sensación de impotencia en la comunidad.
Reports of opacity surrounding the incident
In light of the silence from MINFAR and the official media, various voices denounced the opacity with which the authorities handled information related to this tragic event.
Activistas y ciudadanos cuestionaron why no further details were revealed about the conditions of the warehouse y las posibles negligencias que pudieron haber contribuido al incendio.
This feeling of distrust has also been reflected on social media, where many have called for greater transparency from MINFAR and the government.
Tribute in Absence: The bodies have not been recovered
The ceremony on Monday, January 20, was marked by the absence of the bodies of the 13 deceased, which have not been recovered due to the magnitude of the disaster.
According to the authorities, the explosions and the subsequent fire made it impossible to recover identifiable remains, a situation that has heightened the pain of the families.
On Sunday, January 19, President Díaz-Canel declared an official day of mourning in Cuba, which extended from 6:00 a.m. until midnight on Monday, January 20. During this period, flags were flown at half-mast on all public buildings and military establishments across the country.
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