A fire triggered by a lightning strike has caused the explosion of three oil tanks in the town of Matanzas, 104 kilometers from Havana. So far, the official toll is one person dead, 17 injured and 121 missing, according to the latest count provided by the Cuban Ministry of Health. Mario Sabines Lorenzo, governor of Matanzas, has confirmed the explosion of a third crude oil container.
The third tank also collapsed after fuel spilled from the second tank and further compromised the situation in the early hours of the morning.
Governor @mariofsabines: "the risk we had announced did indeed occur."#FuerzaMatanzas pic.twitter.com/PYqdBkKP6p
- Presidency Cuba 🇨🇺 (@PresidenciaCuba) August 8, 2022
The first tank that exploded contained 26,000 cubic meters of oil, approximately 50% of its capacity. During the early hours of Saturday morning it collapsed and the fire spread to a second tank containing 52,000 cubic meters of fuel oil. The third tank also generated an explosion after fuel spilled from the second tank and further compromised the situation.
Due to the "imminent danger from the spread of toxic gases," Sabines reported that more than 1,000 people were evacuated and operations were continuing to relocate those in vulnerable locations.
📍At this moment -assured @mariofsabines- Air Force helicopters pour water to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas. pic.twitter.com/gGuM6a9aRx
- Presidency Cuba 🇨🇺 (@PresidenciaCuba) August 8, 2022
Cuban dictator Diaz-Canel gave his thanks on Twitter for the support of like-minded regimes with these words: "We express deep gratitude to the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile, who have promptly offered material aid in solidarity with this complex situation. We are also grateful for the offer of technical advice from the United States".
On the other hand, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío added, that the United States had offered technical assistance in an effort to contain the flames.
