Bus Avoids Disaster After Brake Failure on Cuba's Treacherous La Farola Viaduct

A potentially catastrophic accident was narrowly avoided on Tuesday thanks to the quick thinking of a bus driver who managed to control an out-of-control vehicle descending the perilous La Farola viaduct in eastern Cuba. The Guantánamo Provincial Transport Directorate reported on Facebook that the incident took place in the afternoon at a section known as "Veguita."

The bus, numbered 1246, was traveling the Maisí-Havana route when it experienced brake failure along one of the country's most challenging and winding roads. According to several passengers, the driver, Luis Antonio Rodríguez Griñán, maintained control of the bus for over a kilometer, skillfully navigating sharp bends and steep slopes until bringing it to a halt without causing injuries or fatalities.

"The driver acted with agility and skill, preventing a greater disaster," stated the official report. No injuries were reported, and the passengers were transferred to another vehicle to continue their journey to the capital. Municipal and provincial authorities arrived on the scene to ensure traveler safety.

While the incident brought relief, it also sparked concern among Cubans, many of whom question the technical condition of the buses and the lack of preventive maintenance on high-risk routes like La Farola. "I was on the bus, and it was very difficult what we went through. Thanks to that young driver, the 43 of us on the bus were saved," commented one passenger.

The driver's father expressed gratitude, saying, "I thank my great Lord for protecting him every second he was performing that great maneuver to save all those lives on that bus, including children and the elderly. Thank you, dear son; this is the work of the great Lord I have always taught you to believe in."

A Baracoa resident added, "Thanks to God there were no major injuries, but it's time to reflect and call on national transport leaders to provide buses that meet the necessary conditions for this route, as the situation demands."

The viaduct, a vital connection between Baracoa, Cuba's most mountainous municipality, and the city of Guantánamo, is one of the island's most dangerous stretches due to its narrowness, sharp turns, and steep grades. This demands optimal conditions for vehicles and extreme caution from drivers navigating it.

Though no lives were lost this time, the incident reignites calls for a comprehensive review of the interprovincial transport system and stricter technical inspections on the country's most demanding routes.