Matanzas Supertanker Base fire contained after maintenance accident

A fire broke out on Friday at the Matanzas Supertanker Base in Cuba's Industrial Zone. The blaze originated during maintenance work on an empty tank and was successfully managed by the Fire Brigade, the Ministry of the Interior, and other auxiliary agencies.

Authorities reported no casualties and stated there was no danger of the fire spreading to nearby residents. While the exact nature of the accident remains unclear, officials have ruled out a major threat to the installation.

The incident occurs as Cuba continues rebuilding the facility following a catastrophic fire in August 2022. That disaster, caused by a lightning strike, resulted in 17 deaths and over 130 injuries. Ongoing reconstruction efforts involve Cuban and Chinese teams working to restore the facility's storage capacity.