Related videos:
A fire was reported on Friday afternoon in a warehouse located at the back of the Casa de Retiros y Convivencias in El Cobre, an old seminary, adjacent to the sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity, in the province of Santiago de Cuba.
According to the report signed by Father Rogelio Dean Puerta, rector of the Sanctuary, the fire was successfully extinguished by the Fire Department and no injuries or human damages have been reported.
The sanctuary authorities clarified that neither the Retreat and Fellowship House nor the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity were affected by the incident, which was limited solely to the warehouse.
They also emphasized that there were no donations or heritage goods in that location, so there were no material losses related to received assistance or objects of historical or religious value.
While the firefighters were controlling the fire, the local administration remained on-site to manage the situation, and the archbishop was present to support the staff and oversee the response to the incident.
The causes that led to the fire are under investigation, according to the internal memo released by the rector.
The sanctuary authorities also specified that the Retreat and Fellowship House has other operational storage facilities, allowing the center to continue receiving aid and donations “for various purposes,” without the fire hindering the continuity of that work.
In the statement, it is assured that the pastoral and logistical operations of the place continue normally.
According to the rector, they will "continue to provide updates" on any relevant information once the results of the investigations into the cause of the incident are known.
The images published by the activist Irma Broek depict the cloud of smoke that rose from the fire and left a black trail in the sky.
Neighbors gathered outside the venue to witness the incident.
A week ago, firefighters responded to two emergencies in one day, just minutes apart.
First, there was an alert about an elderly neighbor who had not been seen for several days and whose home remained closed. A team from Command 1 Martí went to the location and, in the absence of a response, forced the door in the presence of community leaders.
Inside the residence, they found the 70-year-old elderly man, Cecilio de los Suitos Compta, completely dehydrated on the floor. He was urgently transported to a hospital by the SIUM.
As the rescue was concluding, firefighters received another alert: a fire at the Soy Processing Plant. The fire started in the main control panel of the preparation building, but the swift action of Command 4 Vista Alegre and rescue technicians prevented the flames from spreading to other areas of the factory. No victims or injuries were reported.
According to a worker on duty, the fire may have started after the restoration of electrical power, when sparks were produced and shortly afterward smoke began to emerge from the premises. Specialized investigators are looking into the causes of the incident.
Filed under: