A truck reportedly transporting liquid detergent was involved in an accident this Saturday, ending up overturned on a highway in Holguín. Images shared through the Facebook group 'Accidentes Buses & Camiones' showed a Soviet-made ZIL truck overturned on the Mayarí highway.
"Mayarí highway, Holguín, Los Haticos. I don't know the causes," stated a user in this group, who shared photos of the incident, which occurred near the Consejo Popular Los Haticos, within the Báguanos municipality.
A video shared via the mentioned group showed the actions of police and firefighters at the scene, who were managing traffic and using water hoses to spread the spilled liquid from the truck, creating foam on the road.
"That truck belongs to the UCM [University of Medical Sciences], I think. It was loaded with liquid detergent," commented a user on the Facebook post. The occupants of a vehicle that passed through the area and recorded the video also commented that the spilled liquid from the truck was detergent. This editorial has not been able to confirm details of the incident, which has not been reported by either the authorities or the official media.
As of the writing of this note, the health status of the truck’s driver or whether other people were traveling with him remains unknown. No injuries have been reported in the incident.
The Impact of the Socioeconomic Crisis on Incidents
The severe socioeconomic crisis affecting Cuba means that such accidents have costly repercussions on the population, which suffers from a shortage of detergent and other hygiene products. In late May 2020, a desperate scene was captured in a photo shared on Facebook. The image showed a group of Cubans collecting spilled detergent in a street in Havana. According to the post's author, the incident took place on Calzada de Güines in the San Miguel del Padrón municipality. In the transportation of bulk detergent, some containers accidentally overturned, causing the commotion.
In early May of this year, a truck loaded with wheat flour had an accident and overturned on the Central Highway near Las Tunas, scattering its load on the asphalt. Fortunately, there were no human casualties in the incident. Images shared on social media showed the state of the vehicle, a Soviet-made ZIL 130 truck, which was completely overturned with its wheels facing the sky.
"Traffic is restored on the central highway near Jobabito in Las Tunas, after a serious accident involving a Ministry of Agriculture V8 truck loaded with wheat flour," a Facebook user indicated.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Holguín Truck Accident
Below are some common questions and answers regarding the recent truck accident in Holguín, which involved a vehicle reportedly carrying liquid detergent.
What caused the truck to overturn in Holguín?
The exact cause of the truck overturning in Holguín is currently unknown. Authorities have not released any official information regarding the incident.
Were there any injuries in the accident?
As of the latest reports, no injuries have been confirmed in the accident. The health status of the driver and whether there were any passengers remains unknown.
How did the authorities respond to the spill?
Police and firefighters responded to the scene by managing traffic and using water hoses to spread the spilled liquid detergent, which created foam on the highway.
What is the broader impact of such incidents in Cuba?
Accidents like this have significant repercussions in Cuba due to the ongoing socioeconomic crisis, leading to shortages of essential items like detergent, which makes such spills particularly costly for the population.