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A large wildfire is sweeping through more than 200 hectares of forests in the La Lanza area, in the municipality of Minas de Matahambre, Pinar del Río province, and authorities have yet to gain control over it.
The fire spreads along the road linking the municipalities of Mantua and Minas de Matahambre, also reaching the areas of Río del Medio, on the way to Tivisí, as confirmed by Miriam Martínez Veloz, president of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in Minas de Matahambre.
Nery López Puentes, head of Civil Defense in the municipality, specified that more than 200 hectares of forest have been damaged by the flames and warned that the fire has still not been brought under control, aided by the increase in winds, according to a report from the station Radio Minas.
To confront the disaster, a combined force of 60 men from the ranger corps of Viñales, Mantua, and the municipality itself was deployed, along with brigades from the Santa Lucía Silvicultural Base Business Unit, part of the Agroforestry Company.
The authorities expect the addition of 60 more men to reinforce containment efforts.
Among the available equipment are a bulldozer, truck, tractor, and other transport and support equipment, although the winds continue to hinder operations on the ground.
The La Lanza area has a recurring history of major fires: in May 2025 a fire affected approximately 200 hectares in that same location, and, between April and May of that same year, another disaster in the Arenales area devastated over 3,240 hectares after nine days of fighting with more than a hundred firefighters.
In April 2022, a fire in Minas de Matahambre devastated about 300 hectares of pine forests and required the efforts of more than 130 personnel, military helicopters, and 20 kilometers of firebreaks to bring it under control.
Pinar del Río carries the highest risk of wildfires in Cuba, with over 411,000 wooded hectares accounting for 48% of its area.
In 2025, the western province recorded nearly 100 fires that damaged over 9,000 hectares, leading the national statistics.
By 2026, the Cuban Forestry Corps had forecasted a very active season in Pinar del Río, with between 85 and 112 wildfires. According to official data published recently, in the first quarter, 31 wildfires had already occurred, damaging 189.60 hectares.
Experts attribute between 90 and 95% of wildfires in Cuba to human causes.
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