Firefighters battle big blaze at Cuba tank farm for 2nd day
Source: AP
By ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ
HAVANA (AP) Cuban firefighters were joined by special teams sent by Mexico and Venezuela on Sunday as they battled for a second day to control a fire blazing at a big oil tank farm in the western province of Matanzas.
The blaze began Friday night when lightning struck a storage tank during a thunder storm, and the fire spread to a second tank early Saturday, triggering a series of explosions, officials have said.
Authorities said Sunday that a body found at the site had been identified as firefighter Juan Carlos Santana, 60. Officials previously said a group of 17 firefighters had gone missing while trying to quell flames, but there was no word if he was one of those.
A total of 122 people had been treated for injuries, including five in critical condition, officials said.
Members of the Cuban Red Cross prepare to be transported to the Matanzas Supertanker Base, where firefighters work to quell a blaze which began during a thunderstorm the night before, in Matazanas, Cuba, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. The fire at an oil storage facility raged uncontrolled Saturday, where four explosions and flames injured nearly 80 people and left over a dozen firefighters missing, Cuban authorities said. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/cuba-fires-caribbean-carlos-santana-7475422f6055605c1e5543645fa7347d
jaxexpat
(6,849 posts)Warpy
(111,336 posts)Whether they want our help is another matter.
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20220807-cuba-asks-for-international-help-as-deadly-oil-depot-fire-rages
The fire was caused by lightning, not sabotage or accident.
The US sanctions have severely impacted Cuba's modernization of infrastructure.