A tragic workplace accident at the Piensos Occidente factory in Havana has claimed the life of Emilio Norberto Rosas García, a dedicated employee with a long history at the state-run enterprise. According to independent news outlet 14ymedio, Rosas, aged between 62 and 63, died last Saturday after a crane struck a wall, causing it to collapse on him and his colleagues at the Omar Cruz Trujillo Basic Business Unit, located between the neighborhoods of Luyanó and Regla.
Known for his commitment and willingness to work long hours, Rosas García was rushed to Miguel Enríquez Hospital. Despite arriving conscious, he sustained severe injuries, including fractured ribs and a punctured lung. Despite medical efforts, he suffered two cardiac arrests and passed away.
Community Mourning and Frustration
The incident has left a profound impact on Rosas's family, friends, and fellow members of the Order of the Knights of Light, a fraternal organization where he held the esteemed title of Grand Luminary. The organization arranged for his body to be observed at one of its Havana locations, allowing loved ones to pay their final respects.
To date, Cuban authorities have remained silent on the accident, and the condition of other injured workers remains unknown. Neighbors and acquaintances of the deceased have expressed both sorrow and frustration over the lack of official information and the typically slow legal and police response to such incidents.
Increasing Workplace Accidents
There has been a noticeable rise in workplace accidents across Cuba over the past year, causing growing concern among the citizenry. Earlier in October, a fire on a floating power plant (patana) anchored in Havana Bay resulted in the deaths of two Turkish workers and injuries to five Cubans. In late August, an explosion at the Carlos Marx Cement Factory in Cienfuegos led to one fatality, five injuries, and three individuals trapped.
Recent incidents also include the death of a lineman from the Electric Union in March and a fatal collapse inside the chimney of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas, which resulted in the deaths of two workers and injuries to two others.
According to the National Office of Statistics and Information, deaths from workplace accidents in Cuba increased by 8.7% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. This upward trend is occurring amid a shrinking workforce due to mass emigration, making the statistics even more alarming and prompting citizens to demand transparency and accountability from the authorities.