More than 1,200 people were evacuated this Tuesday in the town of Melones, Rafael Freyre municipality, Holguín, following explosions that occurred in a military materials warehouse belonging to the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR).
According to the institution's announcement on its social media, the explosions were caused by a fire at the military facility.
In an initial statement, state media indicated that "in the military unit near Gibara, aging munitions were being classified, which may explain why detonations could continue to be heard."
This information was later removed from the Cubadebate portal, but it was reproduced in other official media outlets such as Tribuna de La Habana.
Authorities specified that thus far, 1,245 residents near the La Púa Popular Council in Gibara have been evacuated as a preventive measure to ensure their safety. Additionally, a commission has been established to investigate the causes of the incident.
Although the official statement assures that the event "poses no danger to the community," the mass evacuation and the nature of the incident have raised concerns among the residents of the region, especially due to the history of similar incidents at Cuban military facilities.
Concern and Background
This is not the first time that explosions in military material warehouses have impacted nearby communities in Cuba.
In 2020, a similar incident at another military facility in Holguín forced the evacuation of more than 1,200 people and caused material damage to nearby homes. In that case, the explosions were triggered by a fire and scattered projectiles in the surrounding area, creating panic among the population.
The current incident once again highlights the security of military warehouses in Cuba, especially those that handle aging ammunition or explosives under extreme weather conditions.
As authorities investigate what happened, residents of Melones and surrounding communities await more detailed information about the potential risks and the measures taken to prevent future tragedies.
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