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A total of 23 people, including nine minors, remain hospitalized this Monday following the mass accident that occurred in the early hours of September 22 on the road to Esperanza, in the municipality of Ranchuelo, Villa Clara.
The Provincial Health Directorate of Villa Clara shared an official update on its Facebook page this Monday at 7:00 a.m., signed by Dr. Yandry Alfonso Chang, director of Medical Assistance and Medications at the DGS. According to the announcement, 14 adults and 9 children remain under medical observation. However, it is expected that in the coming hours, seven of the minors will be discharged due to their favorable progress.
One of the children will remain hospitalized due to a dirty wound on the scalp that required treatment with antibiotics. Additionally, a teenager who underwent surgery is still hospitalized under careful observation.
In the case of adults, Dr. Chang detailed that two patients remain in critical condition, on assisted ventilation, although they spent the night in a stable state. Another adult is hospitalized due to a severe trauma, also with a favorable progression.
According to previous reports, five people underwent surgeries, including a 16-year-old girl. So far, no fatalities are reported as a result of the accident.
The accident occurred at kilometer 288 of the Central Highway, two kilometers from the popular council of Esperanza, when a Yutong bus (license plate 121284), heading to pick up workers from Farmacuba, collided with a Diana bus (license plate 027011) that was covering the San Juan–Santa Clara route. An animal-drawn cart was also present on the road, and its presence may have influenced the dynamics of the crash.
According to authorities, the Yutong bus allegedly tried to overtake the cart when the head-on collision with the Diana occurred. The exact causes of the accident are still being investigated by experts from the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).
From the moment of the incident, emergency teams, firefighters, traffic officers, and personnel from the Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIUM) were dispatched to the scene. The highest provincial authorities also arrived, including Susely Morfa González, the first secretary of the Communist Party in Villa Clara, and Governor Milaxy Yanet Sánchez Armas.
The accident, which left 49 injured in total, was initially reported as a head-on collision between two buses that resulted in dozens of injuries and several minors hospitalized.
The incident has reignited the debate about the dangers of horse-drawn carts on Cuban roads, especially in rural areas where they operate without lights or visible signals, even at night. In just the last two years, several similar incidents have resulted in casualties in provinces such as Holguín, Guantánamo, and Cienfuegos.
Health authorities reported that constant clinical monitoring of all patients is ongoing and necessary medical care is being provided to ensure their recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions about the mass accident in Villa Clara
How many people were injured in the accident in Villa Clara?
A total of 49 people were injured in the mass accident that occurred in Villa Clara, including 9 minors. The injured were transported to hospitals in the region for medical care.
What was the cause of the accident in Villa Clara?
Although the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, it is suspected that the presence of an animal-drawn cart on the road may have influenced the collision. The Yutong bus attempted to overtake the cart, resulting in a head-on collision with a Diana bus.
What is the current status of the injured in the Villa Clara accident?
Two adults remain in critical condition, while others have shown favorable progress. Seven minors are expected to be discharged soon, and the rest of the injured continue to be under medical observation.
What measures are being taken to prevent similar accidents in Cuba?
The accident has reignited the debate over the dangers of animal-drawn carts on Cuban roads. The authorities are assessing the road safety conditions and the urgent need to regulate the use of these vehicles on the highways to prevent future incidents.
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