Rescue teams deployed at the former ESBEC No. 1 in the municipality of Remedios, in Villa Clara, successfully extracted one of the individuals who was trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building and immediately transported them to a hospital for medical attention.
The news was reported nearly at midnight by the journalist from the Cuban News Agency, Henry Omar Pérez, through a Facebook post in which he shared images of the nighttime operation.
The photographs show between ten and fifteen rescuers, including firefighters, Red Cross personnel, and other specialists, transporting the victim on a stretcher among the rubble of concrete, rebar, and collapsed structures.
The rescuers worked with artificial lighting provided by a generator installed on site to continue operations through the night.
In a second post, Pérez shared images of the authorities present at the site and wrote: "All authorities are still present, fulfilling the sacred duty of serving."
Hours of intense work
Shortly before the rescue, Pérez himself had reported that the specialized teams were very close to reaching a survivor located among the rubble.
According to the explanation, the rescuers were in communication with at least one of the trapped individuals and had managed to provide them with water while continuing to clear the structure.
The operation involved the participation of firefighters, the Red Cross, the Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIUM), and other specialized teams. Drones were also employed to assist in locating individuals trapped beneath the rubble during this highly complex operation.
The search continues
According to the official information previously released by the authorities of Villa Clara, it is estimated that approximately three people were inside the building at the time of the collapse. It was later confirmed that all those trapped were from Caibarién, a town near Remedios.
So far, there has been no official information regarding the status of the other individuals who remain missing, nor has there been any news about the recovery of other occupants from the structure.
The collapsed building corresponds to the former ESBEC No. 1 in Remedios, one of the Basic Secondary Schools in the countryside built during the 1970s. Like many similar facilities in Cuba, it had been abandoned for years and showed significant structural deterioration.
Rescue efforts continue at the site as specialized teams work to locate and extract individuals who may still be trapped under the rubble.
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