Canadian tourists traveling on the Transgaviota bus that crashed on Sunday afternoon were injured in the incident, which resulted in the death of the driver of the other vehicle involved and left a total of 26 people hurt. Although the authorities and the official press of the Cuban regime remained silent about the nationality and identity of the injured tourists, the information was published on Monday by Canadian media outlets.
The incident occurred last Sunday near the Santa Clara airport, where a bus from the Transgaviota company, carrying 38 passengers, was struck by a vehicle coming from the opposite direction, resulting in the immediate death of the Cuban driver.
The accident, which has drawn international attention, involved primarily tourists from Quebec who were traveling on flight TS715 to Montreal. According to TVA Nouvelles, the airline Air Transat informed that some of the injured would return to Canada on Monday night, while others would do so on an additional flight scheduled for Tuesday.
"We are trying to repatriate the affected travelers as quickly as possible," stated a spokesperson for Air Transat to the cited media. According to the plan, travelers arriving in Canada on Monday would spend the night in Toronto before flying to Montreal the next day, while the plane departing from Cuba on Tuesday will head directly to Montreal.
Complaints Over Lack of Support
Throughout Monday, complaints about the lack of support and information from the airline grew louder among the families and friends of the Quebec tourists involved in the accident. Michaël Truchon, a Quebec resident whose friend and her 9-year-old daughter were involved in the incident, expressed his frustration: "I have traveled several times with Air Transat, it is a company I trusted, but here I find the support very lacking, even unacceptable, given the situation. Annie needs to return to Quebec as soon as possible to receive the appropriate care. The doctors in Cuba are very good, but their resources are limited."
The airline has not specified how many of the 38 passengers will be repatriated by Tuesday. "Our goal is for everyone to return to the country as quickly as possible, but we cannot confirm that all 38 passengers will return tomorrow," mentioned the spokesperson.
This uncertainty has caused concern among the families and friends of those affected, who insist on the need for a rapid return to receive more comprehensive medical treatments in their home country.
For their part, although local authorities in Cuba rushed to provide medical attention to the injured Canadians (a large deployment of ambulances in perfect condition was reported at the scene), they strived to omit information about the identity and nationality of the injured.
Another Blow to Cuba's Tourist Reputation
The incident involving the Transgaviota bus traveling from Cayo Santamaría to the Abel Santamaría International Airport, which left a significant number of Canadian tourists injured, adds to other events that have caused shock and concern among travel agencies, governments, and international tourists.
The most recent and notable case was that of Canadian tourist Faraj Allah Jarjour, who died on March 22 in Cuba while vacationing in Varadero with his family. His body was mistakenly repatriated to Russia, while Cuban authorities sent the body of a Russian cadaver to Canada. The international scandal caused by this gross error forced the Cuban regime to publicly apologize. Other cases of injured or deceased tourists in Cuba have also been reported by independent media following this tragic incident.
Additionally, Sunday's accident has once again called into question the road safety in Cuba, a country that receives millions of tourists annually. While traffic accidents are common, this case has highlighted the need for improved road conditions and driver training to prevent future tragedies.
The fatal accident involving Quebec tourists in Cuba has once again sounded alarms in Canada, one of the main countries sending tourists to Cuba. While Air Transat works to repatriate the injured as quickly as possible, the lack of support and uncertainty about the return of all passengers have generated a wave of criticism and concerns about the safety of the island's tourism infrastructure, as well as the behavior and transparency of Cuban authorities.
Belonging to the Gaviota Group and under the umbrella of the Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), controlled by the Cuban military regime, the Transgaviota company has refrained from offering explanations about what happened, replicating the typical opacity of the authorities in events of this nature, which affect their interests and investments in the tourism sector.
FAQs on the Transgaviota Bus Accident Involving Canadian Tourists
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the Transgaviota bus accident near Santa Clara airport that involved Canadian tourists.
What happened in the Transgaviota bus accident?
A Transgaviota bus carrying 38 passengers was struck by an oncoming vehicle near Santa Clara airport, resulting in the death of the Cuban driver and injuries to 26 people, including Canadian tourists.
How many Canadian tourists were affected?
The exact number of Canadian tourists injured in the accident has not been specified, but it is known that multiple Canadian tourists were among the 26 injured.
What is Air Transat doing to support the affected tourists?
Air Transat is working to repatriate the affected travelers as quickly as possible, with some returning to Canada on Monday night and others on a flight scheduled for Tuesday.
Why are there complaints about the support provided?
Families and friends of the affected tourists have expressed frustration over the lack of clear information and support from Air Transat, causing concerns about the timely return and proper medical care of the injured.