Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela Join Forces to Stop Massive Fire in Oil Tank Farm

A big oil tank farm is blazing in Matanzas, Cuba, and Cuban firefighters are struggling to contain it. To help put out the blaze, Mexico and Venezuela have flown in special teams of their own firefighters on the second day.

The blaze began last Friday night during a thunderstorm. According to the Los Angeles Times, a bolt of lightning hit a storage tank in an oil tank farm in Western Cuba's Matanzas City. It triggered a series of explosions, which then led to the blaze.

Mexico, Venezuela, Other Countries Sent or Offered Help to Cuba

The Washington Post reported that the Cuban government on Saturday asked "friendly countries" to send in help, with Mexico and Venezuela sending the much-needed reinforcements late Saturday to try to contain the fire.

Both Mexican and Venezuelan contingents came with their own specialized gear to help contain the flames. Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel also revealed that it was not only Mexico and Venezuela who offered to help. He also thanked Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina, and Chile for their offers.

Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said on Twitter that the United States government also offered technical help. The United States has a long history of extinguishing blazes, including oil fires and the California wildfires.

Mexico's Brig. Gen. Juan Bravo said upon arrival that they are supporting preventing risks and helping quell the fires with the use of cooling based on water and foam. However, he admitted that they hoped that more help would arrive soon, including chemical material that could help put out the fire.

Unfortunately, the fire came as Cuba struggled amid a severe economic and energy crisis. The energy crisis is so bad that Cubans regularly suffer from frequent power blackouts in the middle of a hot summer.

122 Wounded With Several Firefighters Missing, 1 Firefighter Dead, Thousands Evacuated in Cuba

As firefighters were sent in to try and quell the flames, reports noted that 17 of these firemen had gone missing. They also found one body at the site, and it was identified as firefighter Juan Carlos Santana, 60. That makes him the first official casualty of this huge blaze.

According to official reports, a total of 122 people have been treated for injuries. It includes five who are in critical condition.

The fire was so bad that the local government was forced to evacuate thousands of people. The Time reported that Provincial Governor Mario Sabines confirmed that they have already evacuated 4,946 people from around the area.

Most of them came from the Dubrocq neighborhood, right next to where the lightning struck one of the tankers. The fire is also causing dense black smoke, spreading westward from the tank fire.

The Ministry of Science and Technology said it has spread over 62 miles to Havana and contains several toxic substances, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Lightning Sparks Huge Fire in Cuba Oil Tanks - From the Miami Herald