Cuba's Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, has spoken out regarding the recent derailment of a rum-laden train in the Matanzas province, an incident that has thrown the region's railway system into disarray. The derailment took place at the 80.5-kilometer mark of the Central Line, near Mocha station in Matanzas.
The Extra Train 924, on its route from the “Meláneo Hernández” distillery in Sancti Spíritus to the Santa Cruz del Norte rum factory in Mayabeque, saw five of its tank cars veer off the tracks. One car tipped over and caught fire, two partially overturned, while two remained on the tracks, impacting approximately 100 meters of the railway path.
In a Facebook post, Rodríguez Dávila described the event as "more than a simple railway accident." He recounted that he was inspecting work in the Havana Bay tunnel when he learned of the derailment, prompting him to visit the site immediately to assess the damage firsthand.
The Minister stated that emergency measures were swiftly enacted to assist affected passengers. This includes the rescheduling of Train No. 15, which runs the Havana - Holguín route, and a temporary halt to the Guantánamo - Havana train. He confirmed that an investigation is underway to uncover the cause of the accident, and fortunately, there were no casualties.
Recent months have seen several train accidents in Cuba. In April 2025, a train on the Holguín-Havana route derailed in Las Tunas, though there were no injuries. In December 2024, a collision between two freight trains in Sancti Spíritus resulted in an oil spill, with initial findings suggesting operational regulation violations. Other incidents include a passenger train derailment in Matanzas in September 2024, and the Manzanillo-Havana train derailing in Las Tunas in August of the same year.
According to official statistics, there were 137 railway accidents in Cuba in 2024, marking a 14% decrease from 2023. Nevertheless, 17 fatalities were reported in incidents related to the rail system.
Key Questions on Cuba's Railway Safety and Recent Accidents
What was the cause of the recent train derailment in Matanzas?
The exact cause of the Matanzas train derailment is still under investigation. The Minister of Transport has initiated an inquiry to determine the factors that led to the incident.
Were there any casualties in the Matanzas train accident?
Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in the Matanzas train derailment.
How many railway accidents occurred in Cuba in 2024?
In 2024, Cuba recorded 137 railway accidents, a 14% decrease from the previous year, 2023.