An early morning fire on Thursday engulfed a Transtur bus carrying Czech tourists near the Topes de Collantes viewpoint in Sancti Spíritus province. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to official sources.
The bus was transporting 20 tourists, alongside two drivers and a translator, on an excursion to the mountainous region of Trinidad, detailed Yensy Turiño, the director of Transtur in Sancti Spíritus, in an interview with the state-run newspaper Escambray. The vehicle was completely consumed by the flames, resulting in a loss of some of the tourists' belongings.
Specialized forces from the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) extinguished the fire "within minutes," ensuring there were no injuries to either the passengers or the bus crew, Turiño confirmed.
Following the incident, another transport option was provided to the Czech tourists so they could proceed "with their planned excursion, which includes a several-hour stay in Topes de Collantes and subsequent travel to the northern keys of Villa Clara," added Turiño. However, no details were given regarding the tourists' lost luggage.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire on "a bus that appeared to be in good technical condition and was only half-full," reported Escambray. The news story includes dramatic images of the bus, completely consumed by the blaze.
Vehicle fires on Cuba's roads are a frequent and concerning occurrence. Cuban authorities remain silent on the causes of such incidents, which has led the public to speculate that they might be due to the poor technical state of both state-owned and private vehicles, or the use of low-quality fuels.
This story is still unfolding...
Understanding Vehicle Fires in Cuba
What caused the Transtur bus fire in Topes de Collantes?
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The authorities are examining why a bus in seemingly good condition caught fire.
Were there any injuries in the Transtur bus incident?
No injuries were reported among the passengers or the crew of the bus.
What measures were taken after the Transtur bus fire?
Another transport vehicle was arranged for the Czech tourists to continue their planned excursion.