Reuters witnesses reported the raging flames that ravaged a four-tank phase of the Matanzas tremendous tanker port had died down and the towering plumes of thick black smoke streaming from the realm had been lowered and now most commonly grey.
Lightning struck one gas garage tank on Friday night time. The hearth unfold to a 2nd by way of Sunday and engulfed the four-tank house on Monday, accompanied by way of large explosions and regardless of efforts by way of native firefighters supported by way of greater than 100 Mexican and Venezuelan reinforcements.
“The situation is going to be more difficult. If the thermoelectric plants are supplied with that oil, we are going to have the whole world affected, it is electricity and it affects everything,” he stated.
On Tuesday, extra helicopters joined the hassle to place out the hearth, along side two fireboats despatched by way of Mexico along side heavy firefighting apparatus.
“We have not yet been able to access the impact area due to the conditions. There is combustion and so we cannot risk our lives for now,” Perez stated round midday.
Later within the day firefighters for the primary time had been coming into the realm and spraying foam and water at the nonetheless smoldering stays.
“Today we have managed to control the fire,” Rolando Vecino, head of shipping for the Ministry of the Interior, stated on state-run tv from the scene.
Officials have now not stated how a lot gas has been misplaced within the hearth which destroyed all 4 tanks. Authorities mentioned that no oil had infected the within sight Matanzas Bay. Still they warned citizens as a long way away as Havana to put on face mask and keep away from acid rain because of the large plume of smoke the hearth generated.
One firefighter died and 14 went lacking on Saturday when the second one tank blew up, government stated on Tuesday, correcting an previous determine of 16 lacking. Five others stay in vital situation.
Mario Sabines, governor of the Matanzas province, about 60 miles (130 km) from Havana, quipped the flames unfold like an “Olympic torch” from one tank to the following, turning every right into a “caldron.”
