Explosion at FAR weapons material warehouse due to a fire

The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (MINFAR) reported on Tuesday an incident that affected a weapons storage facility, where explosions occurred due to a fire.

A statement published on their social media confirmed that "explosions occurred at a site where military materials are stored in the locality of Melones, municipality of Rafael Freyre, province of Holguín, due to a fire."

The incident "poses no danger to the community," authorities stated. The MINFAR confirmed that "the causes of what occurred are being investigated."

For his part, the official Rolando Guerra Machín, a specialist from the municipal directorate of Labor and Social Security in Holguín, stated on his social media that the evacuation of local residents was underway, although he mistakenly identified the explosions as occurring in old mines in the area.

According to the official, some "explosions in the old mines" that occurred in the early hours of the morning in the Melones Popular Council disrupted "the peace of the citizens" in the municipality of Rafael Freyre in Holguín.

"A note provided by the magazine Buenos Días from Canal Caribe [indicates that] the nearby population is being evacuated, but so far there is no danger," added Guerra Machín.

Explosions at military facilities: A recurring pattern

The incidents at Cuban military facilities, such as the one that occurred in Melones, are not isolated cases and have raised concern among the population in recent years.

These situations not only expose the inherent risks of managing explosive materials in populated areas but also highlight potential failures in safety and maintenance protocols.

In 2020, a similar incident occurred at a military unit in Holguín, when a fire triggered a series of explosions in an ammunition depot. More than 1,200 people from nearby communities were evacuated, and the projectiles scattered by the explosions damaged properties and land in the vicinity.

Although the authorities assured at the time that they would investigate the causes, a clear public report was never provided, leading to speculation and rumors among local residents.

Between 2022 and 2023, the province of Havana recorded at least three fires related to military facilities.

In April, a grass fire within a military unit prompted firefighters to respond and raised alarm in the nearby community. Months later, in December, a reported fire in a military area of the capital triggered a significant security presence, although authorities did not provide conclusive details about the causes of the incident.

Another notable incident occurred in August 2022, when a fire affected a military barracks in Havana, highlighting the recurrence of such events in the country.

Concerns about security in military warehouses

These events reflect a concerning lack of maintenance and adequate safety protocols in facilities that handle hazardous materials. Although the FAR assures with each incident that "the causes are being investigated," concrete conclusions or corrective measures that instill public confidence are rarely provided.

Experts indicate that military facilities in Cuba, many of which were built decades ago, may not meet modern international standards for the storage of ammunition and explosives.

Extreme weather conditions, the lack of resources for proper maintenance, and the coexistence of these facilities with nearby communities increase the risks.

Impact on the population

Although authorities have indicated that the recent incident in Holguín "poses no danger to the community," past experiences with similar incidents raise doubts among the residents of the area.

In the case of 2020 in Holguín, the projectiles scattered after the explosions reached nearby properties and fields, causing fear among the residents.

Similarly, the recent fires in Havana have raised concerns about the preparedness and response capability of security and emergency forces.

Transparency and necessary protocols

The recurrence of incidents at military facilities underscores the need to implement more stringent security and maintenance measures in weapons storage sites.

Additionally, greater transparency is required from MINFAR to clearly and accurately inform the public about the causes and the actions taken to prevent future incidents. The lack of official information and the tendency towards secrecy lead to distrust and increase the perception of insecurity among citizens.