Matanzas, Cuba.- The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, verified today the progress of the actions to extinguish the fire in the industrial zone of this province, from the command post located in the vicinity of the incident.
As reported by the account Twitter of the Presidency, in the check it was known that the cooling work of tank three continues, at the same time that foam began to be poured into the first fuel tank.
Similarly, the fire that caused the spill of the product after the explosion was put out, the authorities explained.
Along with the president in the permanent monitoring of the fire are Prime Minister Manuel Marrero and the member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Roberto Morales Ojeda.
Previously, they spoke with the relatives of the disappeared at the Velasco Hotel in the territory and visited the injured treated at the Faustino Pérez hospital.
The governor of Matanzas, Mario Sabines, assured that the priorities for today are the evacuation of the nearby diesel deposits to avoid further damage and the pumping of greater quantities of seawater to the area of the incident, which will allow the application of the chemicals that will suffocate the conflagration.
He also stressed that the authorities are caring for the evacuees and relatives of injured people, while the country’s top leadership is dealing with the damage, the province’s electricity situation, water pumping and food distribution.
The incident at the supertanker base occurred last Friday at nightfall, when lightning struck one of the gigantic crude oil tanks and unleashed the fire, which later spread to a second tank.
According to official reports, one person lost his life, more than 120 received medical attention and 16 are still missing due to the disaster.
DIALOGUES PRESIDENT OF CUBA WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE DISAPPEARED
The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, spoke today with the relatives of those who disappeared in the large-scale fire at the supertanker fuel base in this western province.
According to information published in the account in Twitter of the Presidency, the president assured the relatives of these 16 people that they have all the support, in a meeting held at the Hotel Velasco in the territory.
The head of state was accompanied by the Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, and the member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Roberto Morales.
Then, the president visited the injured who are treated at the Faustino Pérez hospital and spoke with the relatives of the injured who are there, added another message on the virtual platform.
The Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) reported today that 24 people remain hospitalized and 98 were discharged, given the events that occurred this Friday when lightning struck one of the gigantic crude oil deposits and sparked the fire, which it was later extended to a second tank.
In total, there were 122 patients treated in hospitals, specifies the part of the MINSAP, which points out that five people are in critical condition, three in serious condition and 16 in care.
In the provincial Legal Medicine service, professionals from the institution and the Ministry of the Interior identified the body recovered at the scene of the accident yesterday of Juan Carlos Santana, 60, a member of the Cienfuegos Fire Department.
As of yesterday, aid began to arrive from abroad with flights from Mexico and Venezuela, and new arrivals with supplies and specialists are expected for this Sunday.
The priorities today are the evacuation of the nearby diesel tanks to avoid additional damage, the pumping of greater quantities of seawater to the area of the incident, which will allow the cooling of the tanks and the application of the chemical products that will suffocate the conflagration.
DÍAZ-CANEL DIALOGUED WITH COOPERATIVES FROM MEXICO AND VENEZUELA
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic of Cuba, exchanged today with the heads of the aid teams sent by Mexico and Venezuela to help put out the fire at the Matanzas supertanker base.
In your account at Twitter The president thanked the governments of those countries for their immediate solidarity, in particular their presidents, Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Nicolás Maduro.
It is a sign of solidarity towards the Cuban people,” said the president after a hard morning and a determining day in this battle for life, according to the Presidency when reviewing the intense fight of firefighters against the fire.
Specialized firefighters, experts, equipment including helicopters, as well as foam and chemical products used in the extinction of these incidents are part of the cooperation of these countries.
Welcome Mexican brothers. We count on your expertise and your solidarity to continue fighting the fire at the #Matanzas Supertanker Base. Thank you President @lopezobrador_ for the immediate response to our urgency. Thank you #Mexico, Díaz-Canel wrote in Twitter.
The endearing message from the minister @TareckPSUV is moving, announcing the departure for #Cuba of a group of firefighters and experts from @PDVSA. Thanks to brother @NicolásMaduro and the noble people of #Venezuela for the support. #FuerzaMatanzas, the Cuban Head of State also expressed in the aforementioned social network. (PL / ACN)