The fire that has consumed a fuel storage base in Matanzas, in western Cuba, for five days, was “controlled” by the island’s Fire Department, with a balance so far of one dead, 20 people who remain hospitalized and 14 disappeared.
“We can now say that the fire is controlled,” Alexander Ávalos Jorge, second chief of firefighting, announced to the press. of the Cuban Fire Department, which praised the help of Mexico and Venezuela.
The fire devastated four tanks with a capacity to store 50 million liters of fuel each one, located at the supertanker base in Matanzas, a city located 100 kilometers from Havana, reported AFP.
“Today we feel calmer,” Ávalos said, although he clarified that some hot spots persist in the area and that total extinction “is not going to happen today.”
He added that they are cooling the area and extinguishing these sources with aerial means.
Earlier, a Mexican helicopter crew that flew over the fire had reported that the fire had begun to come under control.
One of the four tanks on fire “is already practically off,” a Cuban pilot who accompanied his colleagues from the Mexican Navy told television, adding: “Today we are going to finish it off.”
In a second tank, according to images transmitted by the crew to Cuban television, there is less smoke and the flames are weaker than in previous days.
In the two remaining warehouses, the situation could not be verified, since the smoke makes it difficult to seealthough the flames are less intense.
The pilot estimated that “the work was effective” since it was possible to keep cool the pipe that connects the deposit with four other equal tanks, located only 150 meters away and that are considered out of danger.
The fire started on Friday, after lightning struck one of the eight tanks at the fuel storage base, considered the largest crude oil storage center in Cuba and strategic to feed the thermoelectric plants from the country.
From the city of Matanzas, about four kilometers from the fire, with the bay in between, much less smoke and flames are observed today, AFP journalists confirmed.
The Bourbon Artabaze, of the Mexican Navy, continued to launch a powerful jet of water some 150 meters from the fire, while five helicopters equipped with 2,500-liter tanks dropped seawater.
The fire started on Friday after lightning struck one of the eight tanks at the fuel storage base, considered the largest crude oil storage center in Cuba.
Mexico and Venezuela responded immediately to Cuba’s request for help and since Saturday 13 planes and two Mexican ships have arrived, and 4 planes from Venezuela, with firefighters, specialists, foam, hoses and other means.
Working with firefighters and specialists from Mexico and Venezuela “was a unique experience,” Avalos said, noting that the experts from the three countries shared criteria.
The fire has so far left one firefighter dead and 128 people have received medical treatment for burns and injuries, 20 of whom remain hospitalized, while another 14 firefighters are missing.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel explained to the press on Tuesday that, to the extent that the flames are suffocated and the temperature drops, “we will be able to enter to recover the victims”in reference to the disappeared.
“It is going to be a very hard time” for which “we have to be prepared and provide support to these families,” he added.
The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of the main ones in the country and located in the same industrial area of Matanzas, resumed activity on Wednesday after being stopped for two days due to water contamination caused by the fuel spill.
This situation aggravated the electricity generation and distribution crisis in Cuba, which has led to power outages in Havana and other cities in the country.
