Flames from a fire that has been burning for several days at an oil base in western Cuba have engulfed a fourth tank.

For Cuba, these are vital fuel reserves in the conditions of the acute energy crisis in the island nation, the Associated Press reported.

Firefighters and specialists from Mexico and Venezuela joined in extinguishing the fire in the province of Matanzas with boats, planes and helicopters, which covered the fuel storage facilities with foam.

Their crews only today for the first time got the opportunity to perform these operations, as the excessively high temperatures did not allow them to do it in the previous days.

Since breaking out at the Matanzas oil facility, the fire has so far killed at least one person and injured 125 people, with 14 firefighters still missing.

Yesterday he forced authorities to shut down a key thermal power plant after it ran out of water, sparking fears of possible further blackouts in Cuba.

Most of the hospitalized injured were treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

More than 20 people remain in hospital, five of whom are in critical condition.

The burning oil depot, which consists of a total of eight tanks, is extremely important to Cuba's electricity system.

The facility is the operator of a large oil pipeline fed with Cuban crude oil, which is then transported to thermal power plants to generate electricity.

It also serves as a distribution center for the unloading and subsequent transfer of oil, fuel oil and diesel imported from abroad.

A large fire burns at a lightning-struck oil base in Cuba, there are many injured

The fire broke out on Friday evening after lightning struck one of the tanks and caused several explosions.

Then over the weekend the fire grew.

The first tank was half full, with 25,000 cubic meters of fuel.

The second was full to the top.

The authorities are still assessing the damage, adds BTA.

The fire broke out just days after the government announced planned blackouts in the capital Havana due to the summer heat.

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