Huge fire at a fuel depot in Cuba has collapsed a second oil tank. Because of the major fire in Matanzas in western Cuba, tank number two collapsed on Monday night, the responsible provincial government announced on its Facebook page. The tank had contained 52,000 cubic meters of oil.
It is unclear whether the incident also affected a third oil tank. However, the Cuban leadership assured that the third tank had not collapsed. The first tank, which was about half full with around 26,000 cubic meters of oil, collapsed on Saturday.
What is probably the biggest fire in Cuba’s history was triggered by a lightning strike on Friday. The smoke spread to the capital, Havana, 105 kilometers away. Hundreds of people had to be evacuated from the area in the western province of Matanzas.
Local authorities reported at least one fatality, a 60-year-old firefighter. 16 firefighters who had been fighting the blaze on the front lines were missing. Of the more than 120 people injured in the accident, 24 were still being treated in hospital on Monday, five of them were in mortal danger. Energy Minister Livan Arronte was also injured.
In the hotel “Velasco” in the center of Matanzas, many relatives were waiting for news about the missing firefighters. Head of State Miguel DÃaz-Canel assured them on the spot that the authorities were doing everything in their power to find the missing people.
The fuel depot is part of the largest combined heat and power plant in Cuba. According to the authorities, its operation was not affected by the accident. According to the state oil company Cupet, this is the largest fire in Cuba to date.
In the fight against the major fire, Cuba asked “friendly states with experience in handling fuel” for help, the presidential office said. Firefighters and other experts with planes and equipment arrived from Mexico and Venezuela on Sunday. The USA had also “offered technical advice”.
