Matanzas Supertanker Base incident clarified by Cuban authorities

The Ministry of Energy and Mines and Cupet have clarified that no fire occurred at the Matanzas Supertanker Base following reports of a blaze on Friday. Authorities stated that during maintenance on an empty tank, accumulated sulfur on the surface combusted during cutting work, producing a thick column of gray smoke.

While some reports described the event as a fire, officials emphasized that the combustion did not result in open flames and was quickly controlled. They noted that the sulfur combustion is a known technical occurrence during maintenance when using oxy-cutting tools on tanks with high sulfur content.

The incident follows a major, fatal fire at the same facility in August 2022. Officials stated that the current situation posed no danger of propagation to the surrounding area or residents.