Specialized forces on the island, in coordination with similar forces from Mexico and Venezuela, are working tirelessly to extinguish the fire, which has spread to a second tank causing a large explosion and threatens to spread to other other areas.

The authorities have evacuated more than four thousand people in the face of danger while the number of injured rises to 122 and one dead and 16 missing are reported.

The situation is complex and the confrontation strategy focuses on cooling the area in order to apply foam and other chemicals that would create a layer to eventually smother the flames.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and other high political and government authorities are coordinating, with the local government, actions to deal with the incident.

Prensa Latina offers a summary of the main moments of this current event, which is still ongoing:

friday august 5

Explosion and fire reported in a fuel tank in Cuba

A strong explosion caused by an electric discharge generated a large fire in the industrial zone of the city of Matanzas, in the west of Cuba.

The Cuban government attentive to the Matanzas fire

Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the government was monitoring the fire in the industrial zone in the western province of Matanzas, which hit an oil tank.

Nearly fifty injured by fire in Matanzas

Nearly fifty people were injured due to the large-scale fire in the Cuban province of Matanzas, where new explosions were recorded due to the incident.

Saturday August 6

Efforts continue to extinguish a large fire in Matanzas, Cuba

Firefighters from several Cuban territories continue their intense efforts to extinguish a large-scale fire that occurred in the industrial zone of Matanzas, where the authorities of the country and the province are located.

Cuban president accompanies those injured by fire in Matanzas

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel accompanied those injured in the large-scale fire that occurred in the western province of Matanzas.

Evacuation carried out in areas affected by a fire in Cuba

Hundreds of residents of the province of Matanzas are evacuated today due to the incidence of smoke from a fire in fuel tanks in the industrial zone of this city.

Perceptible smoke in Havana from a fire in Matanzas, Cuba

The column of smoke from the uncontrolled fire at the supertanker base in the western province of Matanzas is noticeable in towns east of the Cuban capital.

Diaz-Canel chairs burnt-out meeting in western Cuba

The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, ordered to prioritize the search for the missing and attention to relatives, during a follow-up meeting on the fire in the industrial zone of this city.

Cuba seeks international cooperation to put out huge fire

Cuba has requested the help and guidance of the international community to put out the large fire that continues uncontrollably at a supertanker base in Matanzas.

Impact of the accident on the economy, culture and sport

The Varadero spa maintains normality, as does the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in Cuba and close to the site of the incident.

Cultural and sports activities in Cuba are suspended and operations in the port of Matanzas are suspended, diverting them to Havana and Matanzas.

First fire death reported in Matanzas

One of the firefighters who worked to control the fire in the fuel tanks of this city died today.

Solidarity with Cuba against the Matanzas fire

Expressions of solidarity and encouragement come from various countries, institutions and organizations.

Cuban president thanks international aid for fire

The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, expressed his deep gratitude to Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile, who quickly offered solidarity material assistance in the face of this complex situation. Likewise, he thanked the offer of technical advice from the United States government.

First injured by fire in Matanzas receive medical discharge

The first patients to arrive at the Calixto García Hospital in Havana, slightly injured by the fire in the fuel tanks in Matanzas, have been discharged from the hospital.

Aid arrives in Cuba from Mexico after fire

Media and specialized personnel from Mexico have arrived at Juan Gualberto Gómez International Airport in Matanzas, to support firefighting actions in the city’s industrial area.

Sunday August 7

Help has arrived in Cuba from Venezuela and Mexico to fight the fire

A plane with help from Venezuela and a second plane from Mexico arrived in Cuba today to support the fight against the fire in the industrial zone of the western city of Matanzas.

Cuban President assesses measures taken to deal with fires

The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, today assessed the strategy to deal with the fire that is raging in the industrial zone of this western city, where new actions have begun to be implemented for the switch off.

There are four thousand evacuees in Matanzas, Cuba, due to a fire

The number of people evacuated in the city of Matanzas due to the continuing fire at the supertanker base has risen to four thousand.

Victim of a fire identified in Matanzas, Cuba

Cuba’s Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal, announced today that the body of Juan Carlos Santana, 60, of the Cienfuegos firefighters, who died after the Matanzas fire, has been identified.

Resources and supplies deployed to fight fires in Cuba

Water pumps, chemicals and specialized equipment are deployed today in the areas surrounding the large fire that affects the industrial zone of this city in western Cuba, to extinguish the flames.

The President of Cuba confirms the actions of the area surrounding the incident The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, confirmed today the progress of the actions to extinguish the fire in the industrial zone of this province, from the post of command located near the incident.

Experts from Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela fight the fire in Matanzas

Mexican and Venezuelan experts are working today with Cuban firefighters and specialists to extinguish a major fire in fuel depots in the industrial zone of this city.

A fire in Cuba did not cause an increase in respiratory illnesses

Cuba’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment announced today that polluting gas emissions from the fire at the supertanker’s base have not caused an increase in respiratory illnesses.

They put out a fire in one of the crude oil tanks in Matanzas

The fire of the first fuel tank which caught fire on Friday in the industrial zone of this provincial capital was extinguished today.

Hydraulic works advance to extinguish a fire in Cuba

Cuban specialized forces are advancing today in the installation of engineering works with the aim of increasing the collection of water to maintain cooling and extinguish the fire in the industrial zone of this city.

Flares in a disaster area in Cuba

The second fuel tank of the Super Tanker Base in this city in western Cuba has been burning for more than 30 hours, where strong flames are confirmed today, increasing the risk of the fire spreading.

The collapse of a tank aggravates a gigantic fire in Cuba

A huge explosion, apparently the product of the collapse of a fuel tank, worsened this evening the gigantic fire which affects since Friday the supertanker base in the city of Matanzas.

monday august 8

Cuba reports third fuel tank did not collapse

The Matanzas Provincial Defense Council announced today that the third fuel tank did not collapse due to the fire at the supertanker base in that city.

They are working hard in Cuba to put out a huge fire

Cuban authorities and firefighters spent the entire morning trying to contain the flames at the Matanzas supertanker terminal after a second fuel tank collapsed.

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