Cuban oil tanker fire leaves 1 dead, 121 injured

BOGOTA

A lightning bolt sparked a fire and explosions at an oil storage facility in the Cuban city of Matanzas on Friday night, leaving at least one person dead and 121 others injured.

Seventeen firefighters are also reported to be missing. Five of the injured people are in critical condition and some 2,000 people have been evacuated from the region.

The country has called for international cooperation.

It is said that the explosion in the port occurred at a tanker on Aug. 5 at 11:00 p.m. local time and the flames spread to three more tankers.

With its oil wells, refineries, giant tanker equipment and thermal power plants, Matanzas Port is known as the country's largest industrial and commercial port.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan

BOGOTA

A lightning bolt sparked a fire and explosions at an oil storage facility in the Cuban city of Matanzas on Friday night, leaving at least one person dead and 121 others injured.

Seventeen firefighters are also reported to be missing. Five of the injured people are in critical condition and some 2,000 people have been evacuated from the region.

The country has called for international cooperation.

It is said that the explosion in the port occurred at a tanker on Aug. 5 at 11:00 p.m. local time and the flames spread to three more tankers.

With its oil wells, refineries, giant tanker equipment and thermal power plants, Matanzas Port is known as the country's largest industrial and commercial port.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan