Cuban firefighters update situation of gas leak at Sancti Spíritus school

The Federico Engels Primary School in Sancti Spíritus was shaken this Wednesday by a gas leak, which required the evacuation of 916 students and the intervention of the province's Fire Department.

The leak occurred in a 2,500-liter liquefied gas cylinder that is used in the educational center's kitchen. The lieutenant colonel Alexander Avalos Jorge, chief of the Fire Department, provided details to Escambray about the incident.

"Since we received the call from the school management, we sent technicians and identified that the leak came from the main valve of the gas cylinder. We immediately implemented containment measures such as the use of water and damp cloths," explained Ávalos Jorge.

He added that there is no possibility of an explosion but they made the decision to evacuate all students as a preventive measure. They completed the operation in 20 minutes.

Damaisi Bernal, director of the primary school, thanked the firefighters for their work and highlighted the organization of the evacuation.

"We informed the families to pick up their children and moved them to safe areas. Those who could not be picked up immediately by their parents were taken to a safe place while we lowered the electric catao to avoid any sparks," Bernal said.

Gas leak continues but "there is no risk of explosion"

"We coordinate with the neighbors and take precautions with the vehicles that pass through the area. We are working with colleagues from CUPET to control the leak that persists, but does not pose a danger thanks to the favorable weather conditions and compliance with safety regulations," said Ávalo Jorge.

The head of the liquefied gas brigade of the Cabaiguán Refinery, Wilfredo Araujo, called to remain calm and continue with security measures.

"We have turned on the stoves to reduce the pressure, which helps to handle the situation more quickly during the night. There is no accumulation of gas, but in order to work on the leak the bale must be empty," commented Araujo.

916 students study at the school and there were 142 teaching and non-teaching workers. Everyone was evacuated.

The authorities of Sancti Spíritus launched the alert in their territory due to the gas leak in a primary school. Deivy Pérez Martín, First Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party (PCC) in that province confirmed that "the situation is already under control", although the gas leak persists.