In the early hours of August 26, national train No.18, traveling from Manzanillo to Havana, experienced a derailment in the municipality of Jobabo, Las Tunas. The incident occurred at 00:05 hours at the level crossing of the Jobabo station, affecting the front part of the locomotive. Despite the potential severity of the accident, authorities confirmed there were no injuries or significant material damages.
"The accident, which caused neither injuries nor material damage, occurred at the level crossing of Jobabo station, km 37, 900, Bayamo line. The alert plan and measures to be taken in such a situation were activated," stated the company Rutas Nacionales, specialized in passenger rail transport management, on Facebook.
Aboard the train were 159 children, 72 elderly individuals, two pregnant women, and 18 people with special needs, all of whom are in good health. Preliminary information suggests that recent rains in the region may have affected the railway, potentially causing the derailment.
Immediately after the incident, an emergency plan was activated, involving the mobilization of political and government authorities from Las Tunas, as well as railway personnel from the provinces of Granma and Santiago de Cuba. Thanks to these efforts, the train's journey resumed with the assistance of a locomotive from Santiago de Cuba.
Digno Ortiz Vega, deputy director of Ferrocarriles Granma, informed La Demajagua that special attention was given to the most vulnerable passengers, providing them with food, water, and medical care. The company Rutas Nacionales regretted the incident and pledged to minimize inconvenience for passengers.
This incident underscores the importance of maintaining optimal conditions of railway infrastructure, especially during the rainy season, to ensure traveler safety.
Heavy rains last Saturday in eastern Cuba caused flooding in Jobabo, Las Tunas, where accumulated water in the streets inundated homes and state institutions.
In late June 2023, nine homes were affected after a severe local storm in the city of Jobabo. Two total roof collapses, a fallen wall, and other partial infrastructure damages to houses, fallen trees, and damage to electrical and telephone lines were reported following the natural phenomenon.
This was the third storm recorded in that locality since late April of the previous year. Besides the flooding caused by heavy rains, Jobabo suffers from deteriorating public infrastructure, such as the Cine-Teatro 30 de Diciembre, whose roof collapsed in June 2022, leaving it completely unusable.
In late March this year, the official press denounced the state of abandonment of the popular camping facilities "Río Jobabo," southeast of the province of Las Tunas, highlighting that such facilities "are a sad picture of glorious years reduced to filth, decay, and, in some places, waste."
Understanding the Manzanillo-Havana Train Derailment
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the recent train derailment in Las Tunas, Cuba.
What caused the train derailment in Las Tunas?
Preliminary information suggests that recent rains in the region may have affected the railway, potentially causing the derailment.
Were there any injuries from the derailment?
No, authorities confirmed that there were no injuries or significant material damages as a result of the derailment.
How many people were on the train?
The train carried 159 children, 72 elderly individuals, two pregnant women, and 18 people with special needs, all of whom were reported to be in good health.
What measures were taken after the derailment?
An emergency plan was activated, involving the mobilization of political and government authorities from Las Tunas and railway personnel from Granma and Santiago de Cuba. The train resumed its journey with the assistance of a locomotive from Santiago de Cuba.