In Matanzas, a serious fire at large fuel depots continued to burn on Sunday as emergency crews pressed to control the blaze. The incident has resulted in one confirmed death, 16 people reported missing, and 122 injuries so far, with crews still working to prevent further spread and to determine the full scope of the damage.
A towering plume of thick black smoke and flames rose meters high, shrouding the Matanzas Super Tanker Base where the fire began on Friday following an electrical discharge. The scene remained volatile as teams battled the flames and worked to isolate the source of the blaze.
The Ministry of Public Health reported that a 60-year-old firefighter from the nearby city of Cienfuegos helped on the ground. The majority of the injured have since been discharged, though several remain in critical condition as they receive medical care and monitoring.
Fifteen others were reported to be in stable condition, and additional patients continued to receive treatment. The 16 individuals listed as missing are among those who were operating on the frontline when a second tank exploded, complicating rescue efforts and the attempt to account for all workers involved in stopping the fire.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel visited Matanzas on Friday and met with the families of the missing, offering full support and acknowledging the ongoing international assistance. As firefighters and investigators continued to assess the situation, authorities urged patience while search and recovery operations proceeded and the fire gradually came under control.
Monitors indicated that the situation remained complex as crews sought to prevent a broader catastrophe. Reports described ongoing challenges in coordinating the response while ensuring the safety of nearby residents and responders.
At dawn, teams from Mexico and Venezuela joined the firefighting effort. The Mexican contingent included 60 military personnel and 16 technical specialists with experience in industrial fires for the national oil company. Venezuela contributed 20 tons of equipment, including firefighting foam, provided by PDVSA. The international assistance was welcomed by Cuban authorities as part of a broader effort to bring the incident under control.
Eight tanks of 50,000 cubic meters
The flames affected only two of the eight tanks at the facility, each designed to hold 50,000 cubic meters of fuel. Some of the tanks were intended to supply the nearby Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power station, one of the largest in the country. Despite progress, officials warned that the risk of spread remained significant.
As conditions evolved, the first tank showed signs of containment while smoke continued to pour from the second. After an upper deck collapse later in the afternoon, fuel inside the tanks continued to burn vigorously. Firefighters cooled adjacent tanks with seawater and deployed a helicopter to support cooling and containment operations.
Meanwhile, fuel was being pumped from the remaining five large tanks using tanker ships and a domestic cabotage vessel. Given the hidden risks still present, authorities evacuated approximately 4,000 people from nearby neighborhoods. Some sought shelter in temporary facilities at the local university, while others moved in with relatives to avoid danger.
A resident described the experience as terrifying, noting the intense heat and the sight of embers that made the danger tangible. Neighbors recounted their attempts to stay safe, sealing buildings and seeking refuge in nearby parks before relocating to safer areas.
Energy crisis
Officials have yet to publish detailed estimates of the total economic damage caused by the incident. The country has been grappling with an energy crisis that had been worsening in recent weeks due to a combination of technical problems at thermoelectric plants and a shortage of fuel.
Power outages persisted across the country, with frequent disruptions reported during July. The Antonio Guiteras plant in Matanzas faced fuel shortages that limited its ability to generate power, heightening concerns about the broader impact on the national grid.
Initial assessments suggested the fire began around 19:00 local time on Friday when a lightning strike struck fuel puddles, overwhelming the protective lightning system. That afternoon, the first tank exploded with an estimated 25,000 cubic meters of oil, and the second tank ignited the following morning with an unspecified amount of fuel. The skies above Matanzas turned red from the flames while a heavy column of black smoke was visible from Havana, more than 100 kilometers away.