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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Matt Atherton

Cuba oil fire injures 121 - 17 firefighters missing after freak lightning strike

An oil fire in Cuba has injured at least 121 people and killed one, it's been confirmed.

Cuban authorities said 17 firefighters were unaccounted for, and 36 people were in hospital - five of which were in critical condition.

The fire started on Friday evening, when lightning struck an oil storage tanker 60 miles east of Havana.

The wind blew the blaze toward a second tanker, which exploded on Saturday morning.

Civilians were immediately evacuated from the area, as it looked like a third tanker might also burst into flames.

Mexico, Russia, Venezuela and Chile offered aid to Cuba, as the fire caused devastation to the surrounding area.

A second tanker exploded on Saturday morning (AFP via Getty Images)

The US also offered "technical advice" to the Cuban government, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel revealed.

He tweeted: "We express deep gratitude to the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Chile ... which have promptly offered material aid in the face of this complex situation.

"We also appreciate the offer of technical advice from the US."

Firefighters were still working to control the fire on Saturday evening, in a bid to avoid a third explosion.

Military helicopters were sent to dump huge amounts of seawater on the oil tanker facility.

Local residents were also warned to protect themselves against acid rain, and electrical blackouts became common place.

The thick black smoke emanating from the blaze could reach as far as Florida, experts claimed.

More than 13 million gallons of oil was estimated to be contained within the tanker.

Cuba's energy minister, Livan Arronte Cruz, was one of those injured by the fire, the president said.

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