An accident on Las Américas Avenue in Santiago de Cuba sparked concern among locals and passersby on Saturday, as a truck carrying gas cylinders overturned, drawing a large crowd of onlookers.
Ariel Lebeque Diasco, a witness who posted a video on Facebook, reported that the accident happened after the truck apparently struck another vehicle parked at a corner.
"The gas truck overturned. Luckily, it seems the cylinders were empty," he noted.
"It looks like it hit a parked car at the corner, perhaps due to a flat tire, and then it flipped over," he added.
The video shows the truck tipped on its right side, with wheels on the road and the top, along with the gas cylinders, resting on the sidewalk.
There was also a visible spill of a liquid, likely oil or fuel.
Thankfully, the risk was minimized since the cylinders were empty, according to the witness.
The other vehicle involved, also a truck, appeared undamaged in the footage.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or local authorities intervening to clear the area or manage traffic.
In the post's comments section, a user criticized the lack of an immediate cordon around the incident site.
"A small fire in that area with those gas cylinders, without the appropriate personnel like firefighters to inspect it, could have led to a major disaster due to potential gas leaks, because they didn’t clear the area promptly," the commenter expressed.
Lebeque Diasco mentioned that the police were warning onlookers, but few heeded the advice.
The accident highlights the dangers associated with transporting pressurized materials in central streets and the rapid gathering of people around such incidents, increasing the risk of further incidents without proper caution.
Recurrent Safety Concerns with Gas Transportation
This incident is part of a series of similar occurrences over recent years involving trucks from the state-owned Unión Cuba Petróleo (CUPET) transporting liquefied gas cylinders.
Most of these accidents have resulted in overturned vehicles, often due to the load's weight or mechanical failures, raising concerns about the safety of these operations in urban areas.
In October of last year, a CUPET truck collided with a car at the intersection of Línea and 12 in Vedado, Havana, when the traffic lights were out due to a power outage.
Photos of that accident showed the truck overturned in the street and four traffic lights off, likely due to the blackout.
According to witnesses, firefighters arrived but did not take significant action, and the truck's three occupants only sustained minor injuries.
In June 2023, another truck loaded with gas cylinders overturned at the entrance of the Antonio Maceo district in Santiago de Cuba.
The driver was unharmed, and the cylinders were empty, though the vehicle's emergency brakes failed at the end of a slope.
While only material damage occurred, the incident underscores the precariousness of operating these vehicles.
In January 2023, a similar accident occurred in the Diez de Octubre municipality in Havana. The truck overturned without causing injuries or gas leaks.
Witnesses reported that the driver was taken to the hospital for a check-up, while an ambulance attended to evacuated residents, mainly seniors.
The recurrence of these incidents highlights the urgent need for improved supervision of CUPET trucks and a review of safety conditions, especially in densely populated urban areas.
Past accidents underscore the vulnerability of such operations and the exposure of drivers, pedestrians, and residents to situations that could escalate into more significant tragedies.
Common Questions About Gas Transportation Safety in Cuba
What are the main causes of gas truck accidents in Cuba?
The primary causes of gas truck accidents in Cuba include mechanical failures, the weight of the cargo, and inadequate traffic management, especially in urban areas.
How do authorities respond to these types of accidents?
Authorities typically respond to gas truck accidents by securing the area and managing traffic, although there have been criticisms about the speed and effectiveness of these responses.