So far, one person has died in the blaze. More than 120 were injured. Among them is Energy Minister Livan Arronte. 17 firefighters are reported missing. According to the President’s Office, they were on the front line fighting the flames in the industrial area of the city of Matanzas, around 100 kilometers east of the capital Havana.
Thanks to many countries
In the fight against the major fire, Cuba asked “friendly countries with experience in handling fuel” for help, the presidential office said. President Miguel Diaz-Canel thanked Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile for “promptly providing assistance.” The USA had also “offered technical advice”.
17 firefighters are missing, hundreds of residents of the region have been brought to safety
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Lightning struck a fuel tank at the camp on Friday night, triggering an explosion. By Saturday, the flames had spread to another tank, which also blew up. According to the state newspaper “Granma”, a lightning conductor had apparently failed.
Biggest fire in history
According to the state oil company Cupet, it is the largest fire in Cuba to date. The first tank contained around 26 million liters of crude oil, the second 52 million liters of fuel. The fuel depot belonged to the largest combined heat and power plant in Cuba. According to the authorities, its operation was not affected by the accident.
The fire comes at a time when the communist state, with its aging power grid and persistent fuel shortages, is struggling to meet increased energy demands in the intense summer heat. Since May, authorities in some regions have imposed power cuts for up to 12 hours a day. This led to numerous protests.
haz/ack (afp, rtr)
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