A third depot at the Matanzas fuel storage base, in western Cuba, caught fire and collapsed on Monday, authorities reported, as they seek to contain the fire unleashed on Friday that leaves at least one dead, 16 missing and a hundred others. wounded.
“The third tank also collapsed, after the second tank spilled fuel and further compromised the situation in the early hours of the morning,” Matanzas province governor Mario Sabines told state television.
He pointed out that the situation is “very complex”, with “three tanks on” and the fire area “quite wide”.
Sabines said that “teams” from Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela are positioning themselves to spread the extinguishing foam, which “may take a while.”
The fire broke out on Friday after lightning struck one of the eight tanks that are part of this fuel storage plant.
This tank contained 26 million liters of crude oil, 50% of its capacity, according to the state-owned Cubapetróleos.
The flames reached a second tank early Saturday morning. With 52 million liters of fuel oil Inside, this tank exploded at midnight on Sunday, scattering part of the burning content.
Between Sunday night and early Monday two burning tanks collapsed, causing three more minor injuries.
According to the latest medical report, released on Sunday night, the fire leaves one dead, 16 missing and 24 hospitalized, five of them in critical condition.
