The fire that broke out at the industrial zone of Matanzas in the west of Cuba was brought under control after 5 days of efforts. The fire was described as the worst one in Cuban history, which destroyed 40 percent of the country’s main crude oil storage facilities. Major power outages are experienced across the country. Luckily, no oil pollution was reported in Matanzas Bay. Residents were warned to wear masks and avoid acid rain due to the heavy smoke caused by the fire.
The fire broke out after a lightning strike on a fuel tank on Friday night, which then spread to other parts on Sunday, affecting other fuel tanks in the facility. One firefighter died during extinguishing efforts.