A relative of one of the injured in the fireworks explosion during the parrandas in Guayos, in Sancti Spíritus, in the early hours of Saturday, revealed details of the incident, which resulted in six injured, two of them in critical condition.
Yohan Piñeiro Santana, 36 years old, who was watching the fireworks when the explosion occurred, suffered burns to his face, arms, and feet that have left him in critical condition, according to what his father's wife declared to Martí Noticias.
“They turned him off," emphasized the woman, who requested that her name not be published. “He is currently in critical condition.”
"They knew the danger that was there, what they go and get into… They really enjoy it because it’s like a tradition," he pointed out.
He clarified that Piñeiro "was not launching" fireworks; he was just "watching because he likes to see it from right there... up close."
The explosion occurred around five in the morning in the area designated for fireworks in the La Loma neighborhood, near the Cultural Center of the town belonging to the municipality of Cabaiguán.
According to the family member's testimony, the accident occurred there when one of the firecrackers that had been launched fell into a bag of mortars and exploded. “That part right there is only intended for that, what they got into,” she said.
Regarding the young man's delicate condition, he stated that “he understands and all”, but “he is not aware of its seriousness”, and added: “He is the most serious one, along with another boy.”
So far, the identities of the rest of the accident victims are unknown, all of whom are men; five of them are between the ages of 30 and 40, and one is 50, according to official sources.
In the latest medical report released by the official press of Sancti Spíritus, it was reported that, in addition to the two critical patients, there are another two in serious condition and one with a less severe prognosis at the Camilo Cienfuegos Provincial Hospital, while a sixth patient has transitioned to outpatient care.
Dr. Tatiana Hernández González, a second-degree specialist in Plastic Surgery and Caumatology, explained that the patients admitted to the hospital are "polytraumatized, with varying degrees of burns and wounds, who undergo sutures, deep venous access procedures, and other protocolized procedures in the care of injuries from both a local and systemic perspective."
The specialist told the newspaper Escambray that they remain in the Caumatology ward, in “isolated cubicles for their care” by a multidisciplinary team made up of anesthesiologists, surgeons, specialists and residents in Plastic Surgery and Caumatology, and nurses.
In addition, he assured that disposable materials and creams for the treatments are available.
The Ministry of the Interior is investigating the causes of the explosion.
The traditional parrandas of Guayos, regarded as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, celebrated their centenary this year.
The popular festival was scheduled to take place in early November, but it was postponed despite the residents' discontent, who had been preparing for it for months as is customary.
Local authorities cited economic, health, and social sensitivity reasons due to the national situation following Hurricane Melissa, which ravaged eastern Cuba, “as well as a very challenging epidemiological situation due to the circulation of various arboviruses.”
Accidents involving fireworks are common during these celebrations in Cuba. In 2018, two men suffered serious burns during the festivities in Camajuaní, in Villa Clara; and in 2017, during the celebrations in Remedios, also in that province, a fire in a fireworks storage facility injured 39 people, eight of them critically.
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