Cuban Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, announced that the evacuation of the 577 passengers aboard Train No. 16, which runs from Holguín to Havana and derailed on Wednesday night in Las Tunas, was successfully completed without any fatalities or injuries.
The official report states that the incident occurred when the locomotive and the first car of the train—which provides electricity to the rest of the cars—went off the tracks near the town of Bartle in Las Tunas.
All 577 passengers on board received immediate attention from local authorities and emergency teams.
Swift Response Ensures Safe Evacuation
At 6:42 a.m., Rodríguez Dávila confirmed that the transfer operations for the passengers of Train No. 16 were completed. He emphasized, "Fortunately, no injuries or other harm to passenger safety were reported."
Reynaldo Reyes Silva, the Transportation delegate in Las Tunas, praised the quick action of the crew and various railway subsystems, stating they "acted with due diligence."
Coordinated Efforts Across Provinces
The ministry highlighted the rapid and coordinated response from the Party and Government authorities in Las Tunas, alongside provincial departments of Transportation, Health, and the Ministry of the Interior. This coordination enabled the effective evacuation of travelers to their destinations using buses.
The operation involved the mobilization of national buses, Transmetro, School Transport, and private micro-enterprises from the provinces of Holguín, Granma, Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara, and Matanzas.
Fuel supplies were secured to cover the affected routes and facilitate the transportation of both on-transit passengers and those waiting at intermediate stations towards Havana.
Health and Technical Support on Scene
In parallel with the evacuation efforts, the provincial Health department ensured the presence of medical staff and health teams to assess the passengers' conditions, noted the official.
Technical teams from the Ministry of Transportation are currently working to restore railway traffic on the central line, while an investigative commission examines the causes and potential responsibilities for the derailment.
Rodríguez Dávila assured that "the necessary resources and personnel are available to repair the damage as soon as possible and resume regular train operations on that infrastructure."
The ministry will update on the recovery progress of the affected section "as more information becomes available," the official stated.
Previously, the train had derailed in May in the province of Camagüey, resulting in 18 injuries, although none were serious, according to official reports at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Train Derailment in Las Tunas
What caused the train derailment in Las Tunas?
The cause of the derailment is currently under investigation by a commission analyzing the incident's circumstances and potential liabilities.
Were there any injuries reported from the train derailment?
No injuries or fatalities were reported in the train derailment in Las Tunas.
How were the passengers evacuated from the derailed train?
Passengers were evacuated using buses mobilized from various provinces, facilitated by the coordinated efforts of local authorities and emergency teams.