Cuba Requests Assistance from the United States

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that Havana has sought help from the United States to rebuild an oil storage facility that was destroyed by a massive fire, which left 16 people dead. The Cuban Foreign Ministry indicated that the request was made during an online meeting last Wednesday between experts from both countries to discuss "possible cooperation avenues to rehabilitate the most affected aspects." The large fire occurred earlier this month due to a lightning strike on the storage facility located outside the city of Matanzas, west of the country, about 100 kilometers from Havana. The fire completely engulfed four of the eight tanks in the facility, each capable of holding 52 million liters of oil, while the blaze resulted in 132 injuries, with all 16 victims being firefighters who were attempting to control the fire. The ministry stated that the Cuban delegation inquired about "the most innovative technologies and procedures" used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as companies linked to the oil sector, noting that the United States had previously provided technical advice via phone. Furthermore, the Foreign Ministry clarified that the Cuban experts admitted they had "limited experience" in this type of fire. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro also pledged assistance in rebuilding the tanks. It is noteworthy that the Matanzas oil storage facility was established in the 1980s and is essential for securing the country’s oil and derivative needs.