Violence once again shook Palma Soriano, in the province of Santiago de Cuba, with a recent incident that resulted in one deceased and one seriously injured, in what neighbors and witnesses deemed a possible settling of scores.
The fatal victim was identified as Norge Hernández Matos, who sustained a stab wound. According to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, he was initially treated at the Adult Emergency Room of the municipality, where efforts were made to stabilize him before referring him to the Provincial Hospital of Santiago de Cuba.
However, reports collected by the communicator in their post on Facebook indicated that the surgical intervention that could have saved his life did not take place at that center, and he died without undergoing surgery. At the time of writing this note, the authorities and state media are silent about this unfortunate event.
In the same incident, another man suffered a severe injury to his hand, with the alleged loss of several fingers. The exact circumstances of the event are still under investigation, although testimonies referred by Mayeta Labrada suggest a settling of scores as a possible cause.
This incident occurs amid a wave of violence hitting Santiago de Cuba, where knife attacks and public assaults have become frequent. In just the past few days, at least three serious incidents have been reported in the eastern province.
On August 9th, a 32-year-old man armed with a knife stormed into the Policlínico Sur of Palma Soriano, where he stabbed a nurse, a security guard, and another person present at the scene.
The nurse received several stab wounds to the chest and had to undergo emergency surgery at the Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital. While the official version indicated that the attacker was apprehended by the police, several witnesses claimed that it was the people present who subdued and tied him up before the agents arrived.
Less than 24 hours later, Santiago de Cuba was the scene of two knife attacks. The first occurred on Avenida 40 in the Nuevo Vista Alegre neighborhood, where Yudel Vegue Kindelán was stabbed twice —one of them in the neck— and is now in critical condition.
The second incident took place the following night during a summer party on the country road between Palma and El Cobre, where Deniel Veranes, the father of two young children, died after receiving a direct stab wound to the heart during an argument.
Santiagueros on social media are reporting that these episodes share a troubling pattern: parties and public activities without police presence, excessive alcohol consumption, proliferation of drugs, and lack of effective preventive mechanisms.
While the authorities continue their investigations, the population of Palma Soriano and Santiago de Cuba is living in fear, demanding concrete actions to halt the escalation of violence that, according to many, has already become a part of everyday life on the island.
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