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Cuban authorities reported that the fire that occurred on Friday afternoon at the Ñico López Refinery in Havana happened in a warehouse that stored an unused additive product.
According to the information disclosed by the official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso, the authorities assured that the incident did not spread to other areas and is now under control.
The fire occurred shortly after 3:00 PM, and the incident was explained by the director of the entity, Maikel David Cabrera Estrada, who specified that the flames did not reach any fuel storage.
The report adds that the plant is operating normally and that there were no deaths or injuries as a result of the incident.
Firefighters from the refinery itself participated in the firefighting efforts, along with "other forces" that arrived from various commands in Havana, according to the same report.
The first alerts about the incident circulated on social media from the Regla municipality, where residents reported thick smoke in the Havana Bay area and pointed to the refinery as a possible epicenter, while indicating that fire units were heading to the site.
At that initial moment, there was no official confirmation from CUPET or other authorities regarding the source of the smoke, the causes of the event, or the extent of potential damage.
According to images shared on social media, the fire occurred in areas near the refinery tanks, alarming the residents of Havana.
The accident rekindles the debate on industrial safety in the Cuban energy sector.
Although the authorities of the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that the fire was brought under control without any loss of life, the incident adds to a series of similar occurrences recorded in recent years at the country's strategic facilities.
In May 2022, a "fire outbreak" affected a warehouse at the Guaicanamar Convention Center, very close to the Ñico López refinery.
At that moment, the swift action of the Fire Department prevented the flames from spreading, and the fire was extinguished without causing any injuries.
However, the incident raised concerns among the residents of the area, who recalled the proximity of fuel storage facilities and other high-risk structures.
These backgrounds illustrate the recurrence of incidents in Cuban energy infrastructures, marked by deterioration.
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