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Abel Hondal Toledo, a 27-year-old resident of Guayos, survived an explosion caused by fireworks on February first, which left him with burns on 95% of his body. This incident was described by provincial journalist Yosdany Morejon Ortega as an unprecedented event in the history of medicine in Sancti Spíritus.
"By the first time in the history of espirituana medicine, a patient with 95 percent of their body burned manages to survive," the journalist highlighted in their post, emphasizing the uniqueness of the case in the medical context of the province.
The accident occurred on February 1 when an explosion inside a house in the town of Guayos, municipality of Cabaiguán, province of Sancti Spíritus, left two individuals in critical condition.
According to the available information, the incident occurred while both were handling pyrotechnic materials inside the building, which led to a loud explosion and caused damage to the residence.
The two injured individuals were urgently transported to the Provincial Hospital of Sancti Spíritus, where they remained hospitalized under specialized medical care.
However, this type of incident is not isolated in Guayos, a town where celebrations with fireworks have been marked by serious incidents in recent years.
In November 2025, during the traditional parrandas—a century-old celebration deeply rooted in popular culture—several accidents occurred in a short period of time, highlighting the risks associated with handling these devices.
The first of these incidents occurred on November 15, when an explosion of mortars in the area designated for fireworks left six men injured, two of them in critical condition and two others seriously injured.
The explosion interrupted the start of the festivities and necessitated the urgent transfer of the injured to Camilo Cienfuegos Provincial Hospital, where they were attended to by specialized teams.
The next day, on November 16, health authorities confirmed that several of the patients remained in critical condition, with complex injuries and significant burns, highlighting the magnitude of the accident and the fragility of the conditions under which these types of activities occur.
The situation worsened on November 18, when a second explosion was reported also linked to the use of fireworks, bringing the total number of injuries in connection with the festivities to nine.
Among them, at least two were in critical condition, with a risk to life, while others remained hospitalized in serious condition.
The consequences of these events stretched over time. On November 27, the death of Arniel Díaz Pacheco, one of the injured, was confirmed; he had remained in critical condition for 11 days due to the severe burns suffered in one of the explosions.
The death caused shock within the community and once again highlighted the dangers associated with the use of explosives during these celebrations.
This recent history reinforces concerns about safety at events involving fireworks in the region, where, despite repeated incidents, accidents with severe consequences for the population continue to occur.
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