HAVANA (Reuters) – Cubans awoke to massive power outages early Tuesday as 40% of the country’s main fuel storage facility was destroyed in what officials said was the worst fire in its history.
Reuters witnesses reported that the intense flames that have devastated a four-tank section of the Matanzas supertank port since Friday have subsided, and high clouds of thick black smoke still flowing from the area appear covered with ash.
Matanzas is Cuba’s largest port for importing crude oil and fuel. Along with Cuban heavy oil, fuel and diesel stored in Matanzas are mostly used to generate electricity on the island.
The communist country, under the heavy sanctions of the USA, is practically bankrupt. Frequent power cuts and shortages of gasoline and other commodities had already created a tense situation as local protests dispersed after the historic turmoil in July last summer.
Lightning struck a fuel tank on Friday night. The fire spread for a second on Sunday and, despite the efforts of local firefighters backed by more than 100 Mexican and Venezuelan reinforcements, massive explosions on Monday consumed the area where four tanks were located.
Authorities did not say how much fuel was lost in the fire that destroyed all four tanks. Officials said the neighboring Bay of Matanzas was not contaminated with oil. Still, they warned residents as far away as Havana to wear face masks and avoid acid rain due to the huge plume of smoke from the fire.
Officials said on Tuesday one firefighter died and 14 were missing on Saturday when the second tank exploded, correcting the previous figure of 16 casualties.
More helicopters joined the firefighting effort Tuesday morning, along with a fire boat sent by Mexico.
source: Noticias
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