A fire broke out at a fuel tank located on the outskirts of Madanzas city on Friday due to an electrical leak.
The deposit contained about 26,000 cubic meters of domestic crude oil, about 50% of its maximum capacity, when the intensity of the lightning struck the facility’s dome, known as a geodesic dome roof.
Rigel Rodríguez, director of the regional division of Comercializadoraiide Combustibles Matanzas, explained that forces were immediately activated to extinguish the fire and prevent the flames from reaching other similar containers located in the area.
Basically, by using water and foam, the special media of the Ministry of Interior and the Revolutionary Armed Forces combined to control and suffocate the fire, which in turn caused a huge column of smoke from anywhere in the city. .
Evert Eduardo Díaz, director of the same company, said it was necessary to take water from a nearby bay to calm the flames.
Although the cause of the incident is yet to be assessed, it appears that the lightning rod system failed to withstand the force of the lightning.
Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant General Director Misbel Palmero Aguirre clarified that the unit is still in service and that the incident did not disrupt fueling of the plant.
Fire caused by electrical leakage in the bottom of the supertanker #Massacres. Officials, fire department, MINT, FAR are at the spot. Hope the situation will come under control #ForceMatanzas #Cuba #Massacres @DiazCanelB @DrRobertoMOjeda pic.twitter.com/OCxqMxtIlx
— Susely Morfa Gonzalez (@SuselyMorfaG) August 6, 2022
