Tragic Incident at Guillermón Moncada Port in Santiago de Cuba

Cuban official channels reported the death of several port workers while they were unloading cargo in one of the country’s ports.

Incident Details

The events occurred last night, according to reports, at the Guillermón Moncada Port in Santiago de Cuba.

The three deceased dockworkers were Raiko Calzado Kindelan, Yosbani Paaterson Duany, and Roibel Bejerano Hernández.

Engineer José Álvarez Díaz, General Director of the Eastern Port Services Company, told the press that the dockworkers were working on unloading a shipment of imported rice.

Cause of the Accident

Apparently, the three were exposed to a toxic gas in one of the holds that was not intended for this activity and was, moreover, sealed and fumigated.

Although their colleagues and the emergency response teams removed them very quickly and transported them to the closest hospital to the port terminal, the Dr. Joaquín Castillo Duany Military Hospital, the three men were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Ongoing Investigations

At this moment, qualified health personnel and specialists from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), along with other experts, are conducting the relevant investigations at the scene.

Among the aspects to be clarified is how the three dockworkers ended up in an area that was sealed and fumigated.

Concerns Over Safety Measures

Another factor that likely contributed to the poisoning is the lack of protective equipment for these workers when entering ships coming from outside the country.

Generally, dockworkers do not have safety equipment to prevent, as in this case, the inhalation of harmful substances.

Context of the Incident

The unfortunate news occurred amid the maritime operation announced by the Cuban government to expedite the transfer of basic food items.