Joint forces from the railway sector and other local companies, such as the 26 de Julio Cement Factory, are working on recovery efforts at kilometer 31,300 in the main town of Minas, to restore traffic along that stretch following the accident Thursday night involving the Camagüey-Nuevitas train and a Cupet tanker truck.
The work is being supported by a 160-ton crane, along with two locomotives and their auxiliary trains, ready for these maneuvers. The vehicle was partially overturned after colliding with the aforementioned fuel transport vehicle, after the latter's driver violated the stop sign at the intersection where the incident occurred.
Adalberto Giral Rodríguez, general director of the Centro-Eastern Railway Company, informed the Cuban News Agency that no damage has been reported to the track infrastructure, and they have already managed to remove the collapsed conductor, leaving part of it underneath the passenger train's locomotive.
The driver, she said, got on the road and was moved toward the nearby Magantilla layby, Giral Rodríguez said.
Work continues at the scene of the incident until traffic is restored, he stated. At 4:30 a.m. this Saturday, they moved the semi-overturned machine back onto the lanes, allowing it to be moved and clear the road.
They must also remove the Cupet cistern, which remained above the line at the time of writing.
Also participating in the restoration efforts are the Camagüey Roads and Bridges Base Business Unit, Ferroazucar, Cupet, Construction and Assembly Company No. 2, three Emcarga trailers, and workers from the Central Equipment Company, known as Cubiza.
The passengers on train 585 were evacuated in two buses and taken to their destinations, Minas and Nuevitas, respectively, the executive stated.
Following the tragic incident at the intersection located at kilometer 31.300 on the highway to Nuevitas, Minas Gerais, three people were injured: the train's assistant driver, the tanker truck driver, and his companion. They were immediately treated at the Manuel Ascunce Provincial Hospital in Camagüey and have since been discharged.
With information from the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
