Dozens Injured After Lightning Strike Ignites Fire at Major Oil Tank in Matanzas, Cuba

1 年前

Dozens of people were injured after a lightning strike started a significant fire at an oil tank in Matanzas, Cuba, on Friday, August 5, according to officials.

Matanzas government officials reported that 77 people were injured and 17 people were still missing as of Saturday morning. The President’s office confirmed that the missing people are firefighters who were working near the blaze.

“Extinguishing the fire may still take time, but recovery strategies are already being outlined,” said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. He also thanked several other nations, including Mexico and Venezuela, for providing aid, and the United States for “technical advice.”

The fire currently threatens power supply for the island, which was already experiencing an energy crisis that led to government scheduled power outages that began last week, reports said.

The Office of the President said this drone footage was captured in the early morning hours on Saturday. Credit: Cuba President’s Office via Storyful