The clinical condition of Dionel Figueroa Calunga, who was severely injured in last week's accident at the Cienfuegos cement factory, has deteriorated further. He remains in an extremely critical state with life-threatening injuries.
Dr. Soraya Izaguirre Hernández, head of the Burn Unit at the Provincial Hospital Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima, reported during a phone call with the local TV station Perlavisión that the patient is experiencing "internal destabilization" and "hemodynamic repercussions."
While providing limited details about Figueroa Calunga's condition, Dr. Izaguirre Hernández mentioned that he is undergoing a "cough-infectious process" that began on the eighth day post-accident. She noted that although his treatment is comprehensive, both clinical and laboratory indicators suggest significant impacts from his severe and extensive injuries.
Last weekend, Dr. Izaguirre Hernández highlighted additional complications, mentioning that Figueroa had suffered heart and lung issues. Regarding the other three hospitalized workers: one is stable and categorized as less serious, showing no complications after recent treatment; the other two are still listed as serious but are hemodynamically stable, without fever or signs of sepsis, and have a more favorable prognosis.
On Wednesday, a day after the accident, Alexei Aguilar Valdés, aged 53, was discharged from the hospital after sustaining burns on only 5% of his body.
Ernesto Gálvez, the Production Director at the Cienfuegos cement factory, explained to the state-run media last week that the accident, which resulted in five injuries and one fatality, occurred due to the collapse of a hopper, causing a spill of extremely hot material that led to severe burns on the victims.
The deceased was identified as Raymundo Narciso Sarría, aged 61, who worked as an electrician at the Empresa de Construcciones Ingenieras No. 6 (Ecoing-6).
Workplace fatalities in Cuba increased in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, despite a 3.8% decrease in the total number of incidents during that timeframe. The absolute variation was minimal—25 fatalities this year compared to 23 last year—resulting in an 8.7% increase.
A recent report titled "Protection of Work. Selected Indicators," published by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), revealed that 851 workplace accidents occurred between January and June this year, 34 fewer than the 885 recorded in the same period of 2023.
In May, ONEI reported that workplace accidents in 2023 had decreased compared to 2022, although the number of fatalities remained unchanged. Last year ended with a total of 1,491 workplace accidents, marking a 10.6% decrease from the previous year.
Understanding the Cienfuegos Factory Accident and Its Impact
Here are some frequently asked questions to help understand the situation surrounding the Cienfuegos factory accident and its broader implications.
What caused the Cienfuegos factory accident?
The accident was caused by the collapse of a hopper, which resulted in the spill of extremely hot material that caused severe burns to the victims.
Who were the victims of the accident?
The victims included Dionel Figueroa Calunga, who is critically injured, Alexei Aguilar Valdés, who was discharged with minor burns, and Raymundo Narciso Sarría, who unfortunately passed away. Three other workers remain hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries.
How have workplace fatalities in Cuba changed recently?
Workplace fatalities in Cuba increased slightly in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, despite a decrease in the overall number of incidents.