Train with 900 people derails in eastern Cuba; no injuries reported

A train carrying approximately 900 passengers and crew derailed in the eastern Cuban province of Las Tunas, with five of its eleven cars going off the tracks. The incident occurred Tuesday night on the central railway line near a location known as Apartadero de Cruces Sabanazo, as the train traveled its route from Santiago de Cuba to Havana.

State media reported that rescue teams and railway specialists are currently at the site assessing the condition of the terrain and the train. Local transportation authorities have coordinated arrangements for the passengers' onward journey and are implementing necessary measures to address the disruption. A commission has been formed to investigate the circumstances and causes of the accident.

Official data from the Union of Railways of Cuba indicates that at least nine railway accidents were reported in 2025. Identified causes included technical failures, infrastructure problems, animals on the tracks, and operational errors. Previous incidents involved a cargo train derailment carrying alcohol and another carrying honey.

Cuban railway authorities have acknowledged significant deterioration in the national network. This includes obsolete rolling stock, poor track conditions, deficiencies in traffic control, a shortage of spare parts, and insufficient investment in modern signaling systems.