A railway incident unfolded this Thursday in Cabaiguán, located in the province of Sancti Spíritus, resulting in injuries to two employees following a fire caused by the explosion of an air stove in a conductor car.
The peaceful afternoon in Cabaiguán was disrupted shortly after 4:30 p.m. when a fire broke out in conductor 7306 of a stationary train on the well-known old line of the municipality, near the Intermunicipal Bus Terminal, as reported by the Facebook group Transportación Habana TH.
The blaze occurred at the RECA junction owned by the Sergio Soto Refinery, while locomotive 51217, which was tasked with transporting fuel, was stopped on the crossover track of the station, awaiting the unloading of 10 fuel tankers at the local refinery.
The released information indicates that the fire in the conductor car was ignited by the explosion of an air stove used by the crew for cooking meals.
As a result of the incident, assistant engineer Flor Leonardo Santiesteban and engineer Nelson Mejía Conde sustained injuries during the explosion and the subsequent uncoupling of the locomotive.
Both were taken to a nearby medical facility for evaluation and recovery.
The conductor car suffered significant damage, with the loss of personal belongings of the crew being reported.
However, no harm was reported to the train’s engine, thanks to the swift actions of the workers who managed to disconnect it in time, the source indicated.
The fire was brought under control with the assistance of the Fire Department and local residents, who also provided compassionate aid to those affected by donating clothes and other essential items.
Government and Communist Party officials, along with railroad executives, members of the National Revolutionary Police, and the Ministry of the Interior's control agencies, attended the scene.
A commission has been established to investigate the causes and circumstances surrounding the incident.
Details on the Train Incident in Cabaiguán
What caused the fire in the train conductor car?
The fire was triggered by the explosion of an air stove used by the crew for cooking.
Who were the injured workers in the Cabaiguán incident?
Assistant engineer Flor Leonardo Santiesteban and engineer Nelson Mejía Conde were injured.
How was the fire controlled?
The fire was contained with the help of the Fire Department and local residents.