Madrid Spain.- The fire started on last Friday at the Matanzas Supertanker Base affected a third tank this Sunday night, after the wind changed direction to the northeast.
The flames reached the third tank, which had been cooled with seawater for much of this August 7, almost at the same time that the second affected tank collapsed, official media said.
The risk of its happening had been alerted by the Provincial Government of Matanzas. The entity also indicated that the forces that worked in the place had been evacuated shortly before, because the wind had fanned the flames and impeded their work.
Just as he pointed out that “the installation of a powerful pump will be completed to start spraying both tanks with chemical foam.”
Previously, the fire had directly affected a tank with 26,000 m³ of domestic oil and another with approximately 50,000 m³ of imported fuel oil.
“The call is for calm, stay informed and be aware of the media and indications,” the authorities said.
The latest report from the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) indicated that so far one person has been reported dead and 122 injured, of which five remain in critical condition, three are in serious condition and 16 are receiving care. The rest have been discharged.
More than a dozen firefighters are missing. While around 5,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in districts of Matanzas located in the vicinity of the place.
The fire, unleashed on August 5 at the Matanzas Super Tanker Baseoccurred in the middle of a storm, when lightning struck the crude storage tank 52 of said base.
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