On Friday 5th August evening in Cuba, lightning during a thunderstorm struck one of eight storage big tanks at an oil storage facility in the supertankers harbor in Cuban city of Matanzas, 100 Km east of Havana, igniting a massive fire that have injured at least 121 people, some on them in serious and critical condition, and caused one dead, 17 firefighters missing and the evacuation of hundreds of people living relatively close to the accident.
The blaze later spread to a second tank on Saturday 6th catching firefighters and others at the scene by surprise when firefighters were spraying water on intact tanks trying to keep them cool in hopes of preventing the fire from spreading.
The Cuban government has requested international help from international experts with experience in the oil sector, equipment and chemicals to try to control and extinguish the massive fire.
The Governments of Mexico and Venezuela replied immediately to the international request of assistance and on Sunday 8th, 82 Mexican and 35 Venezuelan personnel experienced in combating fuel blazes joined the effort, bringing four planeloads of fire-fighting chemicals and equipment and goods.
The Cuban president, Miguel Díaz Canel Bermudez, has expressed deep gratitude to the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile, which have promptly offered solidary material aid in the face of this complex situation and also appreciated the offer of technical advice from the United States.
The Cuban government and people are also grateful for the several messages of solidarity, friendship and offers of assistance and donations from States and Governments, Parties, politicians, friendship and solidarity organizations, and groups of professional graduated in Cuba from several countries of different regions.
In view of the interest of some governments, organizations and individuals to donate to help Cuba, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX), the institution in charge of the international cooperation that Cuba offers and receives has opened the following two authorized accounts on behalf of the Government:
ACCOUNT AT BANCO FINANCIERO INTERNACIONAL (BFI)
Account Name: DONATIVOS POR EMERGENCIA
Account Number: 0300 000 0533 6242
SWIFT Code: BFICCUHHXXX
ACCOUNT AT THE BANCO INTERNACIONAL DE COMERCIO (BICSA)
Account name: DONACIONES-CUBA
Account number: 0407 6100 8187 0041
SWIFT Code: BIDCCUHHXXX
