An oil tank reportedly caught fire after a lightning strike. Cuba is asking for help from international experts to extinguish the fire.
Updated less than 20 minutes ago
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The fire broke out at an oil facility outside Matanzas after a lightning strike on Friday afternoon local time, and is still burning on Saturday evening local time.
According to AFP, at least one person has been found dead. At least 120 people are injured and 17 firefighters are missing, write AP.
About 1,000 people living in the area must be evacuated, writes Reuters.
–Cuba’s health minister says, according to AP, that five people are seriously injured.
The 17 firefighters who are injured are said to be those who tried to prevent the fire from spreading.
Lightning struck an oil tank
The lightning is said to have struck an oil tank which caused the fire to start. The fire is said to have later spread to another tank.
A large black smoke from the fire is said to have spread more than 100 kilometers west towards Havana, AP writes.
Extinguishing work takes place both from the air and on the ground.
The fire service is also working to prevent more oil tanks from catching fire.
–Asking for help
The authorities say they have asked for help from experts in “friendly countries” with experience in the oil sector.
Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said the US has offered technical assistance to extinguish the fire.
The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, also thanks Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile for their offers of help.
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