Cuban authorities say lightning struck a crude oil storage tank in the city of Matanzas, causing a fire that led to four explosions that injured 52 people, 13 of them critically.
Officials said Saturday that firefighters and other specialists are still trying to quell the blaze that began during a thunderstorm Friday night.
The official Cuban News Agency says the lightning strike set one tank on fire and the blaze later spread to a second tank. The accident comes as Cuba struggles with fuel shortages.
According to the report, the tank was half full with some 50,000 cubic meters of crude oil, and the lightning rod in place could not protect the power of the discharge.
There is no immediate word on how much oil has burned or is in danger at the tank farm, which stores oil used to fuel electricity production.
Photos showed people being treated for injuries at a nearby hospital.
Video sent to Local 10 News showed smoke still billowing from the scene Saturday morning.
No deaths have been reported, according to CNN, citing Cuban state-run media.
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Officials said Saturday that firefighters and other specialists are still trying to quell the blaze that began during a thunderstorm Friday night.
The official Cuban News Agency says the lightning strike set one tank on fire and the blaze later spread to a second tank. The accident comes as Cuba struggles with fuel shortages.
According to the report, the tank was half full with some 50,000 cubic meters of crude oil, and the lightning rod in place could not protect the power of the discharge.
There is no immediate word on how much oil has burned or is in danger at the tank farm, which stores oil used to fuel electricity production.
Photos showed people being treated for injuries at a nearby hospital.
Video sent to Local 10 News showed smoke still billowing from the scene Saturday morning.
No deaths have been reported, according to CNN, citing Cuban state-run media.
Related social media:
Continue reading...