The accident at the Matanzas Supertanker Base has generated commotion in Cuba. From the environmental point of view, there are still fears, doubts and uncertainty about the pollutants that are released in the face of a fire of such proportions.
The Artemiseño spoke with Orlando Díaz Daria, provincial director of Citma, who specified that “the direction of the wind has caused the column of smoke to circulate to the western provinces of the country. Experts agree that the column moves in the middle levels of the troposphere, over a height of more than four kilometers”.
“That is why the concentrations of polluting gases are not alarming for the surface. The situation could become more complex in the event of heavy rains, which would trigger the descent of the particles that compose it”, he assures.
For the moment our considerations are that the population is kept informed through official channels. Specialists from the Institute of Meteorology (Insmet) have been closely monitoring the situation, concluded the director.
Insmet itself predicts probabilities of rain towards the interior and south of Mayabeque and Havana, but no significant precipitation is expected.
The event began in the late evening of August 5, when an electrical discharge hit one of the tanks, it stored national crude oil, then a second tank, of the eight that make up the base, caught fire.
“Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons of different composition. When burned, it produces gases and carbon particles not completely combusted and this particulate material can be acidified by the adsorption on its surface of water vapor and acid gases, such as sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides, with an irritating action on airways. respiratory diseases,” Cristiana Díaz López, doctor in chemistry and professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Havana, told Juventud Técnica.
Tips to take care of health in the current situation
- La principal medida es el uso del nasobuco en los espacios abiertos, sobre todo aquellas personas que padecen alergias o enfermedades respiratorias.In the case of the occurrence of rain:
– Do not have direct contact with the rain.
– Protect pets.
– Do not use this water.
EXTRA TIP: If you see a stray animal in the rain, provide shelter if possible.
