The death of four Cubans in Mexico, including an eight-year-old boy, has revealed not only a domestic tragedy but also the human drama that drives thousands of families to leave the Island in search of a future that often remains uncertain along the way.
The incident occurred in a home in the municipality of Texcoco, in the State of Mexico, where neighbors alerted authorities after noticing a strong smell of gas and realizing there was no activity inside the property.
Upon entering, Civil Protection officials confirmed that the four individuals no longer showed vital signs. Preliminary investigations by authorities indicated that the cause of death was likely gas poisoning, supposedly caused by a malfunctioning boiler, a hypothesis that is still under investigation.
The victims have been identified as Iliet Ramírez Sardiñas, a 36-year-old Cuban doctor; David Martínez Guerrero, a 34-year-old physician; Osmany Cedeño, a Cuban migrant who was living with them; and Abraham, Iliet's 8-year-old son, whose death has deeply affected the Cuban community both inside and outside of Mexico.
After the incident was made known, the Consular Section of Cuba in Mexico reported in a statement that the Embassy became aware of the death of the Cuban citizens and expressed its condolences to their families and loved ones.
The official statement also indicated that the diplomatic mission is in communication with the Mexican authorities and the victims' families, in accordance with the functions granted to it by International Law.
But the pain has not remained in the official statements. Yadi Jiménez, cousin of IlIet, expressed her devastation on social media with a message that encapsulates the family tragedy.
"Today my life was shattered into pieces. People like these, full of life, leave this country to improve themselves and be able to help their families. Today my sister and my nephew slipped away from me due to a gas leak," he wrote.
The shock is compounded by the words of Raudel León Martínez, a Cuban resident in Mexico and close to the victims, who explained that they all shared a common goal: to reach the United States.
"Like all the Cubans who are here, the intention was to reach the United States, but we were caught by the cessation and had to process our documentation in Mexico. Unfortunately, we are in this situation, like the entire Cuban community," he recounted.
Raudel indirectly held the Cuban government responsible for the tragedy and was emphatic in his statements. "I ask absolutely nothing from the government of my country. That’s one of the reasons why we are here, fleeing the Castro regime, which has us overwhelmed and trampled. These are the results: professionals who have to escape from their country, children who have to flee with their parents," he stated.
Regarding the victims, he recalled that IlIet was a doctor, David a “good Christian and good father” whose wife and children remain in Cuba, while Osmany worked at a renowned bakery and was valued as a hardworking and supportive man. He spoke with a choked voice about little Abraham: “He was eight years old. May God hold him in glory.”
The pain is also reflected in the words of Javier Alejandro González Cedeño, a relative of Osmany, who mourned the loss on social media. “It’s hard to believe that people with aspirations to move forward could experience such a tragic event as the one that happened to them. Among them is my uncle Osmany Cedeño. We will always remember him in our hearts,” he wrote, bidding farewell to a family member he described as a cheerful and beloved man.
As the investigations progress, the Cuban community in Texcoco has begun to organize to say farewell to their deceased. According to information shared by local media, on Saturday, January 10, between 2:00 and 4:00 PM, a wake for David Martínez Guerrero and Osmany Cedeño was held at the Ayala hall, located on Palmillas Street, between Insurgentes and Recreo, in the San Diego community. The invitation has been extended to anyone who wishes to support the families during this time of grief.
Family and friends have also reiterated the call for solidarity to achieve the repatriation of the bodies and prevent them from being cremated. “We ask for support so that they can return to their families whole and not in ashes,” expressed Raudel León Martínez, joining a demand that is echoed among Cubans experiencing this grief far from home.
While Mexican authorities continue their efforts to accurately determine the causes of the accident, the tragedy of this family once again highlights the human cost of Cuban migration: doctors, workers, and a child who died far from their homeland, trapped in a migratory limbo that each day yields new stories of suffering.
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